NMMU will focus on developing and attracting young athletes when the Bestmed Madibaz Top 10 Athletics Meeting for schools takes place in the Cradock Stadium on Saturday.
Hosted by Cradock High School, the athletics meeting will cater for top athletes from at least 40 schools in the Eastern and Western Cape.
To provide quality competition for the athletes, a number of Madibaz athletes will also take part as they continue their preparations for the new season.
Madibaz Sports athletics manager Nellis Bothma said the meeting was an NMMU initiative, held in conjunction with sponsors Bestmed, who this year have increased their level of support for the Bestmed Madibaz Athletics Club.
“They have been involved with NMMU over a number of years, but indicated this year they wished to play a role at a higher level,” he said.
“Under the new sponsorship, Bestmed will support the Madibaz Athletics Club financially over the next three years. They will also become the naming rights sponsors for the club’s track and field events.”
Bothma said the medical aid company would also support the George campus’s athletics programme, which includes a street mile series in George, Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn in December.
He added that the sponsorship would be important in assisting the university’s student-athletes maintain a high level of competitiveness, while also attracting future talent.
“It provides more opportunities for our athletes and coaches and gives us the chance to market our club better to local athletes.
“We want to work even closer with our schools to enhance the performances of the athletes in our region.”
Bothma said they would use meetings such as Cradock as a breeding ground to boost their resources for the Varsity Athletics competition in March and April next year.
“We also want to form partnerships with schools athletes who might be keen on linking up with us next season.
“The bottom line is that we are implementing a plan to enhance our performances and to strengthen relationships with our partners.
“We need to recruit strategically for our club to ensure we stay a force in EP and Varsity Athletics.”
Caption: High jumper Garth Ellis is one of the Madibaz athletes sure to benefit from the Bestmed sponsorship. Photo: Supplied