Tongaat youngsters up and running
ONCE the buzzer sounds to signal the end of a school day, pupils from Flamingo Heights in Tongaat on the North Coast, quickly assemble at the Belvedere Swimming Pool.
This is the meeting place for what has developed into one of the most exciting youth athletics initiatives in the province.
The Tongaat Panthers Youth Development Programme has over 40 kids ranging between the ages of 9-16 doing time-trials each Wednesday afternoon.
The programme, a brainchild of the club’s secretary, Keshini Maharaj, introduces kids to running and walking in a safe and controlled environment.
Maharaj, a teacher at Flambell Primary School, began running the programme in 2016. “We noticed that our club numbers were starting to decline and many of our runners were getting older,” she said. It became important for us to develop young athletes and show them the benefits of the sport,” Maharaj said.
Socio-economic challenges in the region have left many youngsters dejected and in search of extramural activities. “As a teacher, I see the challenges to our children daily and it can be demoralising,” said the 40-year-old. “This programme has given them something to enthuse about and introduces them to a sense of community.”
They are put through their paces over 2,5 and 5km routes, which are marshalled by neighbourhood volunteers.
Maharaj added: “It is a safe course for our children to test their abilities. We record their times each week so that they have a chance to take on their personal best times and we’ve seen a remarkable improvement over the months.”
While getting children active is the primary goal, Maharaj said it also taught them discipline.
Maharaj, who is a seasoned ultrawalker, believes some of them will go on to compete in major events like the Comrades Marathon.
“Our children have already competed in six 5km races around Durban. They certainly have the potential and we are excited about the future of the programme and the club.”