Mbulaheni Mulaudzi became South Africa’s first black athlete to be ranked number one in the world in 800m. Also noted as the first black South African to win Gold at a World Championship, 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist and flag bearer in Athens 2002 Commonwealth Champion, named South African Sportsman of the Year for it in 2006, became the only man from Limpopo to carry the South African flag at the Olympics, Athens 2004.
After his death in a car crash in 2014 at age 34, the President declared a Provincial Official Funeral, the National Flag at half- mast in Limpopo.
Prasa sent ten buses free from Braamfontein, Pretoria, Polokwane to Muduluni so people could bury a hero.
At a joint memorial service at Standard Bank Arena, Minister of Sports also promised ” next year we are going to construct the Hall of Fame for all the sporting athletes “.
During the funeral, the then Minister of Sports promised the family and Kutama community that government would build a multi- million rand Sports Cetre to honour him. Facilities include soccer pitch, 400m Athletics track, multipurpose court for netball, volleyball and tennis.
Today, Muduluni village, where Mbulaheni Mulaudzi once ran barefoot to school, you will find a cracked 400m track with grass growing through it, a soccer pitch that was never levelled properly, a vandalized multipurpose court with cut fences. No toilet, no water, no pavilion and no changing rooms. Goats grazing where champions were supposed to train.
Work stopped when R15,9M meant for the project allegedly ran out.
This is not about a failed project. This is how Vhembe remembers its heroes.
If a boy from Muduluni can become World no.1 on a dusty village ground, imagine what 10 boys from Muduluni could do on a real track.
Build it. Finish it. Honour him!