Stephen Mokoka blasts Athletics SA for OPEX, Commonwealth Games snub

The outburst was over his exclusion from the Operation Excellence (OPEX) Programme, an initiative endorsed by SASCOC, which was designed to support athletes with the potential of qualifying and excelling at major global sporting events.

Mokoka was also left out of last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, leading him to express his dismay at their unfair treatment despite his current status as the nation’s premier marathon runner.

"I was informed that I am not able to go to the Commonwealth Games due to the criteria that I did not meet and when I was told, I was told that the message was from SASCOC but now when I hear from SASCOC, they say they get names, they get everything from the national federation. So, for me I'm confused. Secondly, I'm emotional because it shows that there's no transparency and when there is no transparency, what do we do?" Mokoka said.

Much to his disappointment, Mokoka found himself omitted from the OPEX team, when he was informed that SASCOC had made the decision, rather than ASA.

"We went back me and my coach, we trained so hard. I ran a marathon, the second fastest ever by a South African and then when I learnt that OPEX is open, my name was not included again. I learnt that my name was not included from the national federation board members and I was like, if the current best marathon runner in the country, who did SASCOC want to select? Who? Because that means you can't have a marathon runner there because I'm the best in the country."

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