It has been a rough start for the Border Swimming team attending the South African Schools National Championships this year in Pretoria.
The team, consisting of boys and girls aged between 11 to 19, encountered their first hurdle on Tuesday.
The swimmers, who were meant to embark on their trip to Pretoria that afternoon, were kicked off of their bus after being told it had been booked for another sporting code. Undeterred, they decided to gather again at 5am at East London’s beachfront the next morning.
This trip was disrupted by a series of three breakdowns, the last of which was in Bloemfontein where the group of about 100 swimmers had to wait at a petrol station for five hours before being picked up by another bus.
The team eventually arrived in Pretoria at 3am yesterday only to find out they were not booked into their hostel accommodation or registered to compete.
Fortunately later the morning the registration was sorted out by the Border Swimming management team.
Their accommodation, which they have to share with a number of other teams from around the country, boys and girls up to the age of 19, was, according to U16 swimmer Telana Hugo, “very disappointing”.
Due to the last minute arrangement, six of the girls have had to share ablutions with boys they don’t know.
The team administrator and team coaches approached by the Daily Dispatch would not comment on the situation, saying they were not allowed to speak to the media.
Thathani Gaba of Swimming SA said: “It was the responsibility of our affiliates and not Swimming SA.”
When Kolekile Ndudula, spokesman for the Eastern Cape department of sports and recreation was questioned on the chaotic arrangements, he stated: “We can’t take the blame as a travel agent was procured for the transport and accommodation,” adding that, “the delay in registration was caused by a long queue ”.
Border trip degenerates into chaos
The team, consisting of boys and girls aged between 11 to 19, encountered their first hurdle on Tuesday.
The swimmers, who were meant to embark on their trip to Pretoria that afternoon, were kicked off of their bus after being told it had been booked for another sporting code. Undeterred, they decided to gather again at 5am at East London’s beachfront the next morning.
This trip was disrupted by a series of three breakdowns, the last of which was in Bloemfontein where the group of about 100 swimmers had to wait at a petrol station for five hours before being picked up by another bus.
The team eventually arrived in Pretoria at 3am yesterday only to find out they were not booked into their hostel accommodation or registered to compete.
Fortunately later the morning the registration was sorted out by the Border Swimming management team.
Their accommodation, which they have to share with a number of other teams from around the country, boys and girls up to the age of 19, was, according to U16 swimmer Telana Hugo, “very disappointing”.
Due to the last minute arrangement, six of the girls have had to share ablutions with boys they don’t know.
The team administrator and team coaches approached by the Daily Dispatch would not comment on the situation, saying they were not allowed to speak to the media.
Thathani Gaba of Swimming SA said: “It was the responsibility of our affiliates and not Swimming SA.”
When Kolekile Ndudula, spokesman for the Eastern Cape department of sports and recreation was questioned on the chaotic arrangements, he stated: “We can’t take the blame as a travel agent was procured for the transport and accommodation,” adding that, “the delay in registration was caused by a long queue ”.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos