THOHOYANDOU - Phalaphala FM recently staged a colourful ceremony to welcome two of the heroes of the Comrades Marathon. The event took place in the Thohoyandou studios of Phalaphala FM.

Jacob Madima ended tenth in the gruelling race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Jane Mudau’s team, Harmony Gold AC, won the women’s division. The team consists of Farwa Mentoor, Mene Olivier, Jane and Hesta de Graaff.

The Station Manager of Phalaphala FM, Mr Victor Ravhuanzwo, said the station was there to encourage everything that develops the communities. Sports, Arts and Culture MEC Joe Maswanganyi said Madima and Mudau have put the Limpopo Province on the map and their achievements cannot go uncelebrated.

The MEC further said that sport is creating more possibilities for the people of Limpopo. “Talent identification and nurturing cannot just remain the duty of the government alone; we need partnerships with the public and private sectors to ensure that people, especially the youth, begin to unleash their talents and pursue careers in sport,” he added.

Maswanganyi said that the past created a situation in which people with talents, particularly in the rural areas, became frustrated, due to the lack of exposure and confidence in themselves. “We need to develop interest in other sporting codes,” he said.

“The government recognizes that indigenous games also create possibilities for mass participation,” he said. Maswanganyi added that his department will put programmes in place towards the development of an excellent infrastructure and the nurturing of skills in preparation for 2010 Cup.