Jobodwana'disappointed' with Telkom's Bolt deal

JOHANNESBURG - South African medallist Anaso Jobodwana  criticised Telkom on Wednesday for choosing a foreign athlete, world champion Usain Bolt, to market  fibre broadband.

Jobodwana said on radio it was "disappointing"  that local athletes had not been chosen.

"Wayde [van Niekerk] is fastest in the world and he is South African. It just sent out sent out this message that we are not good enough," he told Kaya FM's Mosibodi Whitehead.

Jobodwana added that Bolt was already a brand ambassador with a telephone company in Jamaica.

  in November and has since been criticised for overlooking local athletes.

Telkom spokesperson Jacqui O’Sullivan said Telkom would soon announce deals with local athletes.

"Telkom has huge respect for our local sports stars and their achievements. We are  working on some exciting ideas for local athletics in the coming Olympic year and we look forward to announcing those in due course."

O’Sullivan defended the choice of Bolt.

"The association with Usain Bolt links Telkom not just to another brand but to an individual who has become a legend in his own lifetime. We’ve got South Africa’s fastest network and Usain Bolt is the fastest man on the planet and is universally known and recognised. We believe this association is a powerful way to communicate the world-class speed of our fibre."

Athletes approached to change citizenship

Jobodwana said he had been approached at this year’s World Championships about changing to become a citizen of  another country. He didn't say which country had approached him, but said he hadn't even considered the offer because he loves South Africa.

Two other South African athletes mentioned that they had been approached to change citizenship.

South African race-walking record holder Lebogang Shange, who  also spoke on the radio show, said that if he got an opportunity to change citizenship he would accept because he was not getting support from the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) and the ministry of sport.

Sprinter Akani Simbine said he had received more than one offer to change citizenship. He admitted that some of the offers were tempting because they involved big money. But, he said, he would never leave because it would mean sitting  out international competition for two years.

Earlier this year South African golfer Kevin Anderson revealed that he would take US citizenship and have dual nationality.