Local athletics coach, Goodman Mokhathi, is one of four passionate Free State coaches who have recently attained their Level 3 national coach certification through the Curro Academy.
Mokhathi, who is based in Virginia, Merriespruit, says in October 2023 he attended the national symposium for Level 3 national coaches, which was hosted by Athletics South Africa (ASA).
Mokhathi, who is the coach at the Sibanye Stillwater Athletics Club, say he was fortunate to have met the requirements to attend the symposium for Level 3 coaches.
“There were three other coaches from Bloemfontein in the course with me, and we were all selected to represent the Free State,” he said.
Mokhathi said that he is commited to the up and coming athletes from the district in the hopes of producing athletes who will represent South Africa.
“I am excited with this achievement and I am going to dedicate it to the Sibanye Stillwater Athletics Club. I could not have done it without them,” he said.
Mokhathi started his running career as a short distance athlete and later converted to long distance running.
He said his coach at the time, the late David Mponye, encouraged him a great deal.
“According to my coach I was not an elite runner, but rather a standard, but promising athlete. Today I am an avid athlete,” he said.
“With my qualifications I want to see my athletes competing on all levels, including the elite categories on some major or international events like the Soweto Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, the Two Oceans, and the Cape Town Sanlam Marathon.
“This is definitely doable for some of them. I have closely monitored their progress over the past ten years since I took over the reigns of the club,” said Mokhathi.
He said the standard requirement for runners to be considered an elite athlete is for a male athlete to finish a marathon distance of 42 km with at least a time of sub two or three hours.
Female athletes are expected to finish this distance with, at least, a sub of 3:00.
“My personal achievement will be to see one of my athletes getting gold at major events so that they are able to represent South Africa abroad.
“I also see myself being able to coach South African athletics team when going to compete abroad. I ultimately want to achieve the World Athletics Level 1 certificate, or even better.”
The athletes who have shown promise are Pule Hlabahlaba, Pule Madule, Deekay Majara, Rebecca Lethoko, Potso Khomo, and Sabata Khagane.
“If it were not for these atletes I would not be where I am today,” said Mokhathi.
I ultimately want to achieve the World Athletics Level 1 certificate, or even better. – Goodman Mokhathi
