Track coach Michael Seme runs short of cash

19 November 2015 - 02:15 By David Isaacson

Ace middle-distance coach Michael Seme is looking for sponsors to help him with his annual December training camp in Pretoria. Seme, a product of Soweto, is the mentor of versatile Stephen Mokoka. He also guided Caster Semenya to her 800m World Championship gold medal in Berlin in 2009.Seme charges each athlete R1000 for the month, which covers accommodation, food, training and courses, but even with a group of more than 80 last year, he still had to dip into his own pocket."The camp is from December 1-30 and it's open to everyone. I love to coach and my passion is to train athletes and even coaches."Seme, who holds the highest coaching qualification available from the IAAF, the world governing body for athletics, started coaching when he was still competing in the 1970s.His mentality has filtered into his regular training group of stars, which also comprises runners like Gladwin Mzazi and Precious Mashele.Mokoka, who has already booked his spot at the Rio Olympics in the 5000m and 10000m, says he wants to help Mzazi and Mashele qualify in the two track events so he can have countrymen running alongside him at the greatest showpiece on earth.Mokoka competed in the marathon at the 2012 London Games, but insists he will not do the road event this time around, despite having qualified...

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