Stadium honour for Olympian Mulaudzi
Village venue to help late star’s dream become true
Plans are afoot to honour the late track ace Mbulaeni Mulaudzi with a new stadium named after the former 800m world champion and Olympic medallist.
The proposed feature was marked with a sod-turning event by local authorities at Mudulini village in Makhado, Limpopo, at the weekend.
Mulaudzi died in a car crash in October 2014.
The ceremony on Saturday, hosted by Chief Vele Kutama the chairman of the Vhembe House of Traditional Leaders, was attended by Mulaudzi’s parents, Vhembe district mayor Florence Radzilani, Makhado mayor Shonisani Sinyosi, as well as president of Limpopo Athletics Tshifhiwa Makhosi and Limpopo Sport Confederation’s Vhavenda Mureri.
Speaking through Athletics SA (ASA) board member Esther Malema, ASA boss Aleck Skhosana welcomed the initiative, which marks the official beginning of construction of the muchawaited stadium which will also cater for other sporting codes.
“We must congratulate the community for this official indication that this project is on its way to fruition. ASA is really overjoyed that this athletics legend has inspired the birth of this stadium which we believe will inspire many other Mulaudzis in this region and province,” ASA said.
“We encourage and hope the facility will be used for the purpose it is being built for and trust that athletes will not find it difficult to access their own facility,” said ASA.
The company tasked with managing the project, Mavu Sport Development, said the first phase of the stadium would be concluded in six months.
At the time of his death, Mulaudzi had planned to open an athletics academy to give back to his village.