The National Lotteries Commission has kick-started a project to build a stadium in honour of former South African 800-metre world champion and Olympic silver medalist Mbulaheni Mulaudzi.
Mulaudzi died in a car crash aged 34 in 2014. The facility will be built at his rural village of Kutama outside Louis Trichardt in Limpopo.
A sod turning event has already been conducted at an identified site near his parental home. His father Mukondeleli Mulaudzi, has welcomed the news.
“I know how much the country supported him, and I would like to thank everyone for their contribution. Most importantly I want to thank the man who unearthed his talent, coach Makhomisani. I’m very happy with his efforts to ensure my son is not forgotten.”
The first phase of the stadium construction is expected to be completed in six months.
Mulaudzi’s former coach Mukondi Makhomisani says the facility will benefit aspiring athletes in the village.
“The world is going to know us better if we have managed to achieve what we have achieved with no facility at all. The fact that now the facility of this nature is coming around here, I think we is just going to fly to the echelons. We are going to get the many titles. We are just going to approach it with tenacity, accuracy and precision. We can’t ask for more and we must deliver.”
