Orange Farm’s Flexible Athletics Club returned from the ASA Cross Country Championships in Pretoria with national-level honours after its athletes delivered impressive performances on 4 and 5 September 2026.
Six athletes from the club represented Orange Farm at the championships, marking another milestone for a club that has been competing in Central Gauteng Athletics events for only nine months.
Veteran athlete Simon Mpholo produced the standout individual performance, finishing second in the men’s 50+ 8km event to claim a silver medal. He also earned a gold medal as part of the team competition.
Senior athlete Bathabile Tladi also made a memorable return to competitive athletics after spending approximately 10 years away from the sport. Tladi helped secure a bronze medal in the team competition.
Orange Farm Sports Council chairperson and Flexible Athletics Club chairperson Thato Tsotetsi said the results showed how quickly the club’s athletes have progressed since entering Central Gauteng Athletics competitions.
“I am very proud of the achievements we have reached this year. The good part is that our club has only been competing in Central Gauteng Athletics competitions for nine months,” said Tsotetsi.
“To see our athletes reaching the ASA Championships and coming back with medals means a lot to us. I am very happy to see Orange Farm back and being represented at this level.”
The club’s six representatives at the championships were Simon Mpholo in the masters category, Bathabile Tladi in the senior category, Sabelo Baqu in the junior category, Tshegofatso May in the sub-youth category, Amogelang Chiloane in the under-eight boys category and Mbali Mosia in the under-eight girls category.
While not every athlete returned with a medal, qualifying to compete at the ASA championships gave the younger runners valuable experience against athletes from across the country.
For Flexible Athletics Club, the performances add to what has been a promising first year in organised provincial competition and underline the growing pool of athletics talent emerging from Orange Farm.
Tsotetsi believes the progress is bigger than medals, with the club aiming to create opportunities for local athletes to compete beyond their community and develop through the provincial and national athletics structures.
The Pretoria championships have now given the club another reason to celebrate as it continues working to put Orange Farm athletics back on the map.
