#TuksAthletics: Coach Kriel inspires his athletes to dream big

Posted on March 20, 2017

Anything is possible if you set your mind to it, that it is one of Coach Hennie Kriel's (TuksAthletics) favourite sayings.
 
Judging by the recent highlights during the past three weeks in South African athletics it seems as if his words are being taken to heart by his athletes.
 
During this weekend’s Gauteng North Championships at the TuksAthletics Stadium 17-year-old Sokwakhana Zazini (TuksSport High School) set a new world youth record in the 400m-hurdles (48.84s), Gift Leotlela (TuksAthletics) set a new South African junior record in the 100 metres (10.12s), Thando Roto (TuksAthletics) became the second fastest ever sprinter in South Africa running a time of 9.95s and Fredriech Pretorius (TuksAthletics) became only the second local decathlete to go past the 8000 points in a competition.
 
Three weeks ago Clarence Munyai (TuksSport High School) improved the South African junior record over 200 metres when he ran a time of 20.10s. On the same day, he just missed out on improving the national junior record in the 100 metres as well.
 
There is one common denominator in these success stories and that is Kriel’s role as a coach. The athletes credit him as the one who made them believe in their abilities and they are full of praise about the way he gets them to constantly push the boundaries.
 
Roto describes his coach as being on a never never-ending to find new ways to get them to run faster. 
 
“For him every, second counts, or to be more truthful every less second is important to him. I have been coached by him since 2012 and I am still amazed at how ‘Oom Hennie’ keeps finding new ways to help us become faster. His coaching strategy and philosophy is constantly changing. It is a case of what worked yesterday is not good enough for tomorrow. That makes it exciting for us as athletes,” said Roto.
 
Kriel’s is hesitant to claim any of his athlete’s success as his own. He is constantly emphasizing that he is only trying to guide them. According to him in the end everything boils down to how hungry they are make their dreams become a reality. 
 
“I would say I am one of the luckiest men in South Africa because I get to work with young people and help them to fulfil their goals. There is nothing more rewarding than to see an athlete’s reaction when they get to achieve what they set out to do because I know how much they sacrifice to do so. 
 
Roto’s 9.95 second race on Saturday was one of the few occasions Kriel’s emotions got the better of him. He had to fight back the tears.
“Thando’s breakthrough race is as special to me as when I was part of Heyneke Meyer’s coaching staff at the Bulls when we won the Currie Cup for the first time. Thando had to deal with a lot of disappointments over the last three years. He has what one would call a big heart he is somebody who never quits. I can confidently predict that he will run times faster than 9.95s. 
 
“For me as a coach it will never be just about records and medals. I experience as much satisfaction from the small breakthrough moments from my athletes.”
- Author Wilhelm de Swardt

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