Team SA squad arrive in Lilongwe, Malawi ahead of the 2022 Region V Games

GARY LEMKE in Lilongwe

A strong Team SA squad arrived in Lilongwe, Malawi, on Wednesday afternoon brimful of confidence and determination ahead of the 2022 Region V Games. There are some 250 Team SA members looking to cement their standing as the powerhouses of a region in which 10 countries take part.

Hosts Malawi are keen to make a bold showing at home, but all eyes will be on Team SA. A Covid-19 outbreak in the 2021 Games, held in Maseru, Lesotho, saw the squad return home prematurely, but they are now primed to be competitive across all 11 codes in which they are competing.

They will also head into Friday’s official opening day with the words of Athletes’ Commission chairperson Khotso Mokoena ringing in their ears. The long -and-triple jumper who went on to win a silver medal for South Africa in the 2008 Beijing Olympics – the only medallist for the country at those Games – was full of inspiration and he addressed the squad.

“I really want you to focus on the reason why you are in Malawi,” Mokoena told the Youth (Under-19) athletes. “Before you close your eyes tonight take tyime to think about how you got here and why you are here. You are here because you are the best at what you do in South Africa and you are ready to compete. You’ve done all the hard work. And then, when you wake up in the morning, I want you to visualise your event or match. Visualise winning and your role in it. Then, go out and implement it.”

For many of the 200-plus Team SA squad this represents a significant step down the road to international competition and potential stardom. Some athletes had never been on a plane before, let alone board a charter SAA flight from OR Tambo International to Lilongwe.

“This is a starting point for a lot of you,” Mokoena reminded them. “The Region V Games are an important event in a young athlete’s career. I started out in the same Games that were held in Zimbabwe 20 years ago. Conditions weren’t what we had come to expect from living back home. In fact, I slept on the bus the first night we were there.”

When Team SA arrived they gathered on the runway at Kamuzu International and signalled their intent vociferously.

The president of SASCOC, who delivers Team SA to multi-code sports events, Barry Hendricks, offered further words of support to the young squad. “You must have a good time, take time to enjoy yourselves. You’re representing South Africa and are ambassadors for the country. When all the other countries see you, they will say, ‘that’s South Africa.’ Be sure to uphold the high standards of performance and conduct that have got you this far. And, go out there and win.”

South Africa is expected to dominate the medals table, having amassed the most medals from last year’s Games, despite returning home due to the Covid-19 outbreak a few days early.

Photo: Roger Sedres