ASA boss James Moloi encouraged by Team SA’s performance at African championships

Team SA topped the medal table, securing a total of 20 medals, including seven gold, five silver, and eight bronze.

They finished ahead of Kenya, which earned 19 medals, which Nigeria third place with 15 medals.

The team returned from the West African country yesterday after a five-day championship in Douala, Cameroon.

According to Moloi, this performance gives hope that the athletes could secure a few medals when the track and field events begin at the Olympic Stadium in Paris from 1-11 August.

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“We have won the Africa Cup of Nations of athletics. We have proven that we are the best in Africa, and now we must step up and deliver a world-class performance at the Olympics. We are encouraged by what we have seen in Cameroon and are eager to see what the athletes can achieve in Paris. As a federation, we have done everything in our power to prepare and support the athletes in qualifying for the Olympic Games,” Moloi told SABC Sport.

The qualifying period for the Olympic Games officially closes at midnight today, and World Athletics will confirm the athletes who have qualified via the world ranking system next week.

Moloi expects several local athletes to make the list once it is released. “We anticipate many athletes will qualify through the rankings based on their performance this week. We are now taking the qualified athletes to Paris for a training camp to make final preparations before the Games officially commence. The athletes are ready, the federation is ready, and we aim to make South African sports fans proud of our performance in Paris,” added Moloi.