Veteran athletics coach Michael Seme not planning to retire

Seme, who currently trains his son and Johnson Crane Hire Marathon champion Sikhumbuzo Seme continues to work with some of the country’s top athletes.

Among them is South Africa’s most decorated long-distance runner Stephen Mokoka who has earned numerous accolades and represented the nation at three Olympic Games.

Seme is also the coach who discovered a young Caster Semenya in Limpopo, guiding her to the 2009 World 800m title in Berlin. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in developing Glenrose Xaba before she jumped ship to join Semenya’s training group the Masai Athletics Club in Tshwane.

In December, while many coaches and athletes took a break, he remained active, hosting a training camp at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus to prepare young athletes for the upcoming season.

“I don’t know of any coach who retires. The older a coach gets, the more they learn how to adapt, drawing from years of experience. Take me, for example I don’t coach with technology or rely on an iPad like the younger coaches who are always analysing everything,” Seme told SABC Sport.

“I’m an old-school coach, handling everything myself and not relying on tech to manage an athlete's training. Today, technology dictates how athletes eat, train, and sleep. I focus on hands-on exercises and drills. I’ve been coaching since 1977, and my passion for it is stronger than ever.”

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Last month, Seme was honoured with a lifetime achievement award by Athletics South Africa (ASA) president James Moloi.

He expressed both surprise and gratitude, wondering why it had taken so long for the recognition to come his way.

“I now find myself coaching athletes I once trained as athletes, and that brings me more joy than anything. Caster was one of my athletes, and now she’s a successful coach. I’m incredibly proud of her and the strides she’s making in that role. I have helped develop many athletes and coaches, and I want to express my gratitude to my family and the athletes for trusting me and representing the country with pride. Today, I stand as a proud coach,” Seme shared.

Mokoka, a three-time Cape Town Marathon champion, is set to compete in his second Two Oceans Marathon this April, while Seme is gearing up for an impressive 56km race in Cape Town. “We never stop training, always preparing for the big races, and aiming for the best times,” Seme added.