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Johannesburg - Athletics South Africa (ASA) administrator Ray Mali, has assured the nation's premier road running series will take place this year, regardless of whether or not the federation can find a sponsor.
South Africa's track and field season was given the go ahead on Wednesday after sponsors Yellow Pages signed a new three year deal.
Former sponsors Nedbank, however, have yet to sign a new contract to fund the Matha Series, which consists of 10 road races, including the national 10km, half-marathon and marathon championships.
"The road running season will go ahead," Mali said. "Nedbank have not yet signed a new deal, but we are still in talks with them.
"And even if we can't find a sponsor, we (ASA) will be able to fund the races ourselves."
It is unclear how many of the races formerly funded by the banking giant - including the Durban and Johannesburg city marathons - will be included in the calendar this year if ASA are unable to find a sponsor.
It is already likely that some races will fall away due to time constraints, but the national championship events have already been confirmed.
The first race of the 2009 series, a half-marathon in Pretoria, was held on January 17 last year, and the Durban city marathon took place on February 8, but when the 2010 ASA calendar was released on Wednesday, only five road races were included.
The South African marathon trials for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October will be held in East London on April 2, followed by the SA Half-marathon Championships in Port Elizabeth on July 24, the SA 10km Championships in Stellenbosch on August 21, the Cape Town marathon, which incorporates the SA Marathon Championships, on September 26, and the Soweto marathon on November 7.
ASA have been given "substantially more" money from the Lotto this year, according to Mali, in an effort to stabilise the federation after it was rocked by the Caster Semenya gender controversy last year, followed by reports of financial mismanagement.
That money, Mali confirmed, will ensure the road running season goes ahead, but it is unclear how many more races, if any, will be added to the five already on the fixtures list.
