Joe Morris – Don’t vote for rotten potatoes at the upcoming CGA elections

Morris, who is contesting for the deputy president position, has urged clubs not to vote for officials he describes as crooks, saying those responsible for the collapse of the previous board should not be allowed back into leadership.

He believes the dissolution of the CGA board and its placement under administration by Athletics South Africa (ASA) is an embarrassment to the province, adding that individuals who damaged the image of CGA are “rotten potatoes” who should not be brought back into the system.

"It is embarrassing, because within that board that was placed under administration, there were good leaders and there were rotten potatoes. My advice is that the clubs should apply their minds for the upcoming elections."

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Morris, who will turn 74 in the month of the elections, told SABC Sport that he has no ambition to lead CGA as president.

Instead, he says his intention is to serve as deputy president, where he can offer guidance, advice and support to the incoming president and the new board to help stabilise the federation.

Having served on the first Athletics South Africa board elected after democracy, Morris says it is heartbreaking to see a once-powerful province like CGA reduced to a laughing stock.

He blames greed and self-interest from administrators, saying politicians have put their own agendas ahead of athletes and dragged the sport into disrepute.

"It's so sad. We are the strongest province in the country and yet we have been depleted. That is the reason why I believe, people like myself should be there to guide and make sure that Gauteng Athletics is put back on the correct platform."

Morris, a former race director who organised events such as the JP Morgan races in the early days, insists that clubs know exactly who the disruptors are.

He has once again appealed to them not to give such individuals another opportunity to sit at the CGA table, stressing that leadership positions should be earned through learning and service to the sport.