AKAFUNI ukuzithwesa ingcindezi ngokubalwa kwabazophuma phambili kwi-Top 10 yeComrades Marathon, uNdumiso Sokhela obalwa nabagijimi baKwaZulu-Natal, abathembisayo.
Lo mjaho obalwa neminye emikhulu emhlabeni wagcina ukubakhona ngo-2019, ngaphambi kokuthi umiswe iminyaka emibili ngenxa yeCovid 19.
Uzogijinywa ngeSonto, usukuka eCity Hall, eMgungundlovu, usongelwe eMoses Mabhida Stadium, eThekwini.
Likhulu isasasa ngalo mjaho kwizakhamuzi zakuleli nangaphandle kwabantu bakulesi sifundazwe. Kulokhu imingenelo ibalelwa ngaphezulu ku-15 000.
USokhela ubalule ukuthi njengoba eya kulo mjaho akabhekile okuningi, inhloso yakhe ukuthi ayofunda kabanzi ngawo.
"Kuzobe kungokokuqala ngigijima iComrades. Inhloso enkulu ukufunda ngeComrades, ngiyayazi ukuthi inzima. Uma kungase kuthiwa ngibalwa nabawu-10 abazoqeda kuqala, kobe kuyinto enkulu kakhulu leyo kumina kwazise kuzobe kungokokuqala ngiyigijima. Ukugijima ibanga elide ngagcina kuqala unyaka. Ngicabanga ukuthi ngiphumule ngokwanele ukuzilungiselela iComrades" kusho uSokhela.
Kulo nyaka ugijime iTwo Oceans 56km Marathons, waphuma endaweni yesi-12 (03:16.07), Capital City Marathon ku-21km, waphuma kweyesibili. KwiBest of the Best Marathon, iHarry Gwala District Marathon nalapho aphuma khona endaweni yesibili ngesikhathi esiwu-2:20.04. Kowogcina, kube owePrince Mangosuthu Marathon naphuma kuyona endaweni yesihlanu.
Ugila lezi zimanga eqeqeshwa uXolani Mabhida awayengumqeqeshi kaBongmusa Mthembu enqoba iComrades ngo-2017 no-2018
IComrades igcina ukugijinywa ngo-2019, kwabesilisa yagcina inqotshwe u-Edward Mothibi ngesikhathi esiwu-5:31:33. Kwabesifazane intambo yashaywa uGerda Steyn.
"Kumina kusho lukhulu ukuqeqeshwa nguMabhida. Ngiqale ukuhlangana naye ngo-2013, lapho abona ukuthi kukhona engingakwenza kwezokusubatha. Ukuba ngaphansi kwalo mqeqeshi kungizuzise izinto eziningi. Umzekelo nje, sengike nganqoba imijaho eminingi, lapho ngibala Cross Country, iMandela Marathon neHarry Gwala Marathon. Okuhle ukuthi uyangiqonda kukhona konke. Usefana nomfowethu, amava anawo ungewafanisa nalutho,“ kusho uSokhela.