Since 1990
About Us
If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet, so lets keep moving!
How it started
Soweto Cabal was formed in November 1999 by four friends, Thabo Seopa- founding Chairman, Rio Matlhaku- founding deputy chairman, Mosala Seduku- founding secretary, Likobo Borole- founding treasurer.
Thabo, Rio and Mosala are still involved in the club, whilst Likobo succumbed to the lure of golf and is no longer a runner. The club is registered with Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA). The club has its genesis in the sprawling township of Soweto where its founding members grew. It however has most of its club runs at Glenvista Virgin Active as the health club is central and easy to access for most of its members.
At its founding, the club’s ethos were based on the creation of a spirit of camaraderie, to grow the sport of running and to encourage, promote and engender healthy habits. The club’s members participate in various road races, chiefly the Two Oceans and Comrades marathons, which for most runners represents the pinnacle of ultra-marathon running in South Africa.
The Saturday morning club runs have become a central fixture which has invariably led to members participating in several shorter races in what is referred to in running parlance a ‘busses. This initiative has helped create excitement. After 23 years of its existence, the club has undertaken a drive to renew itself by attracting new and younger members and reviving an exciting and fun based socials at leading Johannesburg based races.
Members of SOWETO CABAL ATHLETICS CLUB are normally asked what the name of the club means. The club draws most of its members from people who either grew up or are in one way or another associated with Soweto.
The Cabal bit in the name was a way of being tongue in cheek, though the word Cabal has political connotations, it was how the founding members referred to their close knit friendship in their teens. Delusions of grandeur maybe! But we were not going to settle for a hum-drum name for our club.
Messages from the founders
We are a group of school friends who hanged around together since our days at school to date. Among the topics we discussed during our long sessions was how to keep healthy and fit. In our group we had Rio Matlhaku and Mosala Seduku who were ardent runners and they looked fit and we envied them. They attributed their healthy looks to exercise and mainly road running. I (Thabo Seopa and Elias Borole) were sold to this running thing and decided that we are going to start road running. Rather than join their respective clubs, we decided it’s best to form our own . We were fortunate that they knew how to navigate the system. We drafted the constitution, decided on the name and the colours and registered with CGA. This was the birth of Soweto Cabal Athletics Club.
We as founder decided that Soweto Cabal should be a social club build along family ethos. To meet the minimum requirements of 20 members we the four founders registered our family members and partners and friends. The club has grown but the founding ethos of family still exists. If we continue along these ethos we will continue to attract quality people who live by these values.
One of my wishes is for the club to have a junior section where young talent is developed specially for track and field events. This will be the ultimate and a long lasting objective.
I am proud to be associated with this club and will be a member for as long as I am alive.
The club was formed to encourage our group of friends to get involved in sports, become healthier and as a vehicle for fun and camaraderie. We were also keen on building an institution which would outlive us, one which would be more than just a running club, but a place where people would congregate, share ideas, play a part in developing the sport by encouraging young people to participate. In the last two years, the club has ‘found’ its mojo with club runs, socials at races, support at Comrades for our runners. I think we truly are on the move.
We formed the club as an outlet where we could meet frequently as friends in a healthy way. Our founding ethos were based on respect, support for one another, to celebrate our achievements of fellow members- not matter how small. My wish for the club should engage in social responsibility programmes. We should also show youngsters that sports can help build solid characters. I enjoy the camaraderie which exists in the club.