Our Athletics Season kicked off from 14 July 2025, with the pre-season programme running for the week before schools officially reopened for Term 3. This often helps in building the momentum as we gear up for the Interschools’ Athletics Season.
Scheduled practices started off well with our Athletes enthusiastic about coming back for the new season, having finished as runners up at the end of the 2024 season. The excitement across the team members was obvious, as the team worked hard, with aspirations of topping the A- League, in the upcoming season.
It takes great focus and discipline, focus and sacrifice for our little ones to survive the tight schedule, practising three times a week for full eight weeks. But they do, we are proud of all our athletes for their resilience throughout the season. These girls and boys have endured tough regimes that the coaches put in place for stamina, fitness and form. It goes without saying that these athletes have been our warriors, roaring with the greatest pride in their Risidale Primary School colours.
This would also be impossible without the wind in their sails, the team teachers, who are supportive and hard-working, wiping tears, handling sniffles, nursing sprains and encouraging them to keep going. To my “Kind, Firm and Mean Dream Team: Mrs Maseko, Mrs Evans, Mrs Jogee, Mrs Jansen van Rensburg, Mrs Huyzers, Mrs Syamantondo and Mrs Mogoru. Mbokodo! We appreciate your support and dedication to the growth and development of our children, both inside and outside the classroom. These learners find courage to soar because of your support and care! I am deeply grateful to Mrs Price, for her continued support and strength. You have been our “Wrecking Ball” throughout the season!
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson
The season finally kicked off, with our first meeting at Craighall Primary on Wednesday, 13th August 2025, opening the season successfully, as we came first place that afternoon. This was the case for three consecutive weeks, at Bryandale Primary, Greenside Primary and when we hosted Franklin D. Roosevelt Primary on the 3rd of September. On 10th September 2025, we ran our last meeting at Rivonia Primary. At this meeting, we realised that we had met our match, as we finished second to the host school. We made the TOP 5 Prestige Athletics Event in the A League. The excitement was in the air. It was a fun-filled event, but the competition was tougher than we had experienced throughout the season. Continuing to Strive for Excellence, we finished in 4th place overall this season. The most exciting news came when three of our athletes were spotted for potential scholarship by high schools. This, really, was confirmation that determination and hard work pay off.
This would not have been possible without our dedicated team of coaches, who have worked tirelessly throughout the season, to groom and mould our young talent. A Solemn Salute! Coach Max, Coach Kole, Coach Elvis and Coach David, who is also our Sports Co-ordinator. These are the backbone of our team, kind at heart, but tough on the track! They nurture and develop our athletes with greatest discipline. It brings them so much joy to see their athletes grow and get stronger on the track, breaking their own record times and running “Under 10 seconds”, for their 80M Sprints. It is always heart-warming to hear them discussing individual athletes’ strengths and what they need to work on next in their training.
A heartfelt gratitude to the Risidale Primary School Community at large, for their undying support and their unmeasurable contribution towards the success of the Athletics Season! Thank you to Mr Ralebona and his team for keeping our field and track immaculate.
Congratulations to all our athletes for a tremendous effort, leading to another successful season. Bravo to the following athletes for their achievements:
Breaking their Age Group Long Standing Records:
Rethabile Mashapa. Jeremiah Kasongo and Onkgopotse Matlaila (also receiving Half Colours - Athletics). Nkanyezi Maboa also received Full Colours -Athletics. We are extremely proud of your achievements, kiddies!
Looking forward to the 2026 Athletics Season! Let’s Go Risidale!
Mrs Mmekoa
