Deputy president of CGA spearheads new era of leadership and growth

Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) is making great strides in the world of sports, thanks in part to athletes like Akani Simbine who continue to achieve international success.

As the track and field season came to a close, CGA’s deputy president and acting president, Karabo Mabilo shared her insights.

As a tax law specialist and attorney, she brings valuable corporate expertise to the table, making her a standout leader.

She’s confident that CGA is heading in the right direction, with the province experiencing its highest level of success.

Her responsibilities include overseeing the corporate operations of the organisation, working closely with Mandla Radebe, the general manager who handles day-to-day operations.

This dynamic leadership duo is poised to take CGA to even greater heights.

“I’m driven by a passion for people’s well-being. To support our athletes, I actively seek out sponsors,” said Mabilo.

“We urgently need sponsors for essential items like running shoes. Athlete development is crucial, and we’re gaining momentum in this area.

We’re committed to transparency, accountability, and growth, ensuring everyone contributes to the organisation’s holistic success. We’re also working on co-ordinating programmes and campaigns to drive progress.

“Restoring our province’s dignity is a top priority. We’re implementing a culture of accountability, from top to bottom, to ensure everyone contributes to the organisation’s success,” she said.

“Transparency is key, and we’re focused on driving growth and development through co-ordinated programmes and campaigns that promote excellence and responsibility.”

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Resources

“While we’re seeing more women, particularly girls, participate in athletics, many face unique challenges that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Our research reveals that these challenges go beyond equipment issues and are often related to hormonal and developmental factors.

“Having talks with the likes of Caster Semenya gave us more insights on the topic. To address this, we need to provide more education and support for coaches and technical instructors who deal with younger talents.

“Our doors are always open to local clubs, coaches, and staff, and we welcome collaboration to help overcome these challenges and empower female athletes.

“It has killed me completely, to see the severity of lack of resources faced by our clubs. To address this, we’re actively seeking sponsorships from retailers and engaging with the private sector to collaborate and support our efforts.

“By the time the cross-country season begins, we’re confident that we’ll have secured some valuable sponsorships to help alleviate the resource challenges faced by our clubs.”

Leadership

“Being a leader and making a difference is both the biggest challenge and most rewarding role. As a dedicated woman leader, my priority is empowering others, particularly women. We need to take up space and make right by the people,” said Mabilo.

“I’m grateful for the support of the CGA team, who value my leadership skills and share my vision of success. Ultimately, leadership knows no gender; it’s about equality, vision, and driving positive change.

“I am joyful of the women who support me for my leadership skills. They share my passion for athlete development.

There are people in the CGA who can move mountains for an athlete’s needs, which is commendable,” said Mabilo.

“While it can be tough at the top, I’ve learned to stay resilient and committed to my goals, even when faced with challenges. It’s not about me, it’s about servicing the people.”

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Gender equality

“Young people must also learn there is nothing that can come your way while folding your hands. You must strive to be honourable and have intergrity,” said Mabilo.

“Here at CGA as women, we need to build and build each other up. Small minds discuss people, but great minds discuss solutions. Let’s be at the forefront of solutions, together,” she added.

“We always have to promote people based on their talents. Historically men were considered superior leaders. We need to work, grow and uplift women and allow them a voice to speak.

“Being in a leadership position I understand it’s not all about women but the empowerment of all staff and to equip all with necessary tools to perform and deliver their best.

“To enable the voices of young female athletes we are enrolling campaigns where we collect sanitary items for both girls and boys and create dignity packs for them. We also collect bras which are donated to young girls. These campaigns have gained traction.

“Another campaign which is not yet launched, aims to collect running shoes for athletes and offer them that support.”

International events

“Congratulations to Akani Simbine on his bronze medal win in the men’s 60m dash at the World Indoor Championships in China. His resilience and determination are an inspiration to generations. We’re proud to recognise him as the 2024 CGA Senior Men’s Athlete of the Year,” said Mabilo.

“We also celebrate Prudence Sekgodiso’s remarkable achievement, winning the 800m gold medal at the same event. Her success demonstrates our country’s commitment to producing world-class athletes.

“As a province, we’re dedicated to supporting our athletes in their international endeavours. We work closely with Athletics South Africa (ASA) to provide resources and incentives for our athletes to excel on the world stage,” said Mabilo.

“Our coaching programmes, supported by ASA, have been instrumental in developing our talent. We believe that our coaches play a vital role in shaping our athletes’ success, hence they need to be well equipped.

“We engage with the government and local communities to protect and nurture our athletes’ talent. Recently, we had 300 athletes participate in ASA national championships in Pretoria, showcasing our growth and development as a province.

“We’re committed to continuing this momentum, supporting our athletes, and producing more world-class champions. Locally we have a stunning track and field season which has concluded smoothly. We have seen records come to an end as athletes registered new ones across events,” said Mabilo.