SA team depart to defend African athletics crown in Nigeria

A 70-strong team of athletes depart in two groups on Monday, full of confidence that they will defend their CAA U18 / U20 continental crown in Nigeria.

Split into two because of flight availability, the first group of over 50 members took off at 3am, while the second group is expected to leave around 6pm on Rwandan Airways.

Due to the nature of their flight, the latter group will then have a sleepover in Kigali and resume the journey on Tuesday morning.

At a brief pre-departure meeting held at the OR Tambo Garden Court hotel in Isando, Kempton Park in Johannesburg, the various team managers, led by the head of delegation John Mathane, the newly elected Vice President of ASA, informed parents that their children are in good hands.

The athletes, some of whom were nervous but excited, were addressed on the team protocols, security, general behaviour, their wellbeing, managing expectations and the contrasting weather conditions in West Africa.