The first batch of 12 of an overall team of 66 athletes, left at 3am on Tuesday for Yaounde, Cameroon on Rwandan Air for the 23rd CAA African Senior Athletics Championships which will be held on 19-23 June 2024.

The second and third batch of
 the South African team consisting of 32 women and 34 men, departs on Wednesday and Thursday respectively also at 3am with same airline. The flight goes to Kigali where it endures a two-hour stopover before proceeding to Yaounde. 

South Africa, who finished as runners-up to Kenya at the last version of the continental extravaganza at St Pierre, Mauritius in June 2022, will be hoping to make the Central African state their happy hunting ground as the cream of African talent converge for what should be a highly contested and exciting competition. 

At the 2022 version of contests, South Africa won the most medals of nine golds, 13 silvers and 14 bronze, but Kenya took the bragging rights through an extra gold despite their overall haul of 23 medals.

Team Mzansi is led by Sabata Kumalo as Head of Delegation and is supported by specialised coaches, a team doctor and managers.

"The mandate of the team is to go for the overall crown so we can be called African champions again," said James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa. "We believe we have selected the best team which we are confident will give the contest their best efforts and represent our Rainbow Nation well.

"We believe everyone is focussed as the bulk of the Olympic team for Paris is here. The team leaves in high spirits having all received their visas. Our prayers are that we come back home with no injuries and a bag full of golden goodies. We also have some withdrawals of athletes due to injuries and permissable reasons. We wish the team well and they have been entrusted to display the South African spirit of friendliness and good behaviour."

Cameroon is the home country of 73-year-old Hamad Kalkaba Malboun, the President of the Confederation of African Athletics, who has been at the helm since 2003. 

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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics  and the Confederation of African Athletics.  The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg. 

ENDS