Paul Gorries: No excuses for Team SA at World Relay Champs

Recent years have seen the men's premier relay team falter at several prestigious international events, yet this time the journey, which started at the University of Pretoria last year before recently culminating in Potchefstroom, offers South Africans a glimmer of hope in the Carribean.

With errors and botched preparations having become synonymous with the team, Gorries has issued a plea for the team not to be judged on past mistakes ahead of the competition scheduled for this coming Saturday and Sunday.

"In the World Relays, the focus is relay only, and a strong showing in the Bahamas will set us up nicely for the Paris Games this year," said Gorries.

"I have full faith in the guys and believe we have the team to deliver this weekend. However, it’s not up to me, but to the guys if they want to do it or not.

"In the past, our preparations were not where they should have been, due to a lack of necessary training camps, but there are no excuses now as we have had numerous camps.

"And it’s up to the athletes to restore the dent in the pride of the relay and seize the opportunity. We have the team and squad to accomplish what we need to. 

"While I cannot run for them, I can teach them what they need to execute on the day. But it is not right to judge them before they compete this weekend. 

"Let’s wait and see what happens. I do admit that recent performances were not good.  But we have had preparations and training camps before this one."

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