Sthembiso Mkhize
ULUNGISELELWA ama-Olympic, umgijimi waseMpangeni, uMbuleli "Mkhaya" Mathanga ofike kwezwakala kwezokusubatha.
UMathanga (28), emasontweni edlule, uphule irekhodi laKwaZulu-Natal leminyaka engu-32, ebangeni lika-5 000m. Lo mgijimi ongaphansi kwePhantane AC, ushaye intambo ngesikhathi esiwu-13:45.
Ubephula irekhodi lesikhathi esiwu-13.51, elalenziwe uZithulele Sinqe ngo-1989.
Ulandele ngokuthi anqobe umjaho ka-1 500m kwiKZNA League 2 enza u-3:54 eKings Park Athletics Stadium.
Ngempelasonto edlule uMathanga ukuphindile lokho, ephula irekhodi ebangeni lika-10 000m ngesikhathi esiwu-28.27 kumaKZNA track & field League, eKings Park Athletics Stadium.
UMdu Khumalo ongumqeqeshi kaMathanga nomnikazi wePhantane, utshele Isolezwe ukuthi ukuphula leli rekhodi komsubathi wakhe kusho ukuhamba kahle ngokwezinhlelo zabo.
Uthe impumelelo esitholwe uMathanga kule minyaka emine eqale ukugijima, imenza angangabazi ukuthi ungomunye wabasubathi bezinga eliphezulu ikakhulukazi ebangeni lika-5 000m nakwelika-10 000m.
Nakuba kungacaci ukuthi ama-Olympic azoba khona ngoJulayi eJapan yini ngenxa yokuhlasela kwiCovid-19, uKhumalo uthe umfuna kulo mqhudelwano uMathanga.
"Ukuphula irekhodi lika-5 000m kukaMathanga yingxenye yamalungiselelo okumfaka eqenjini lesizwe eliya kuma-Olympic, eTokyo. Sizogxila kakhulu ku-5 000m naku-10 000m. Nakuba kungacaci ukuthi lo mqhudelwano uzogcina ukhona yini kodwa thina kumele singami ukusebenza kanzima. Sinohlu lwemijaho esihlela ukuthi uMathanga enze kuyo izikhathi ezizofeza leli phupho. Omunye wayo ozoba eCape Town ekupheleni kukaMashi," kusho uKhumalo.
Kuvalwe izwe nyakenye ngenxa yeCoronavirus, uMathanga elele indawo yokuqala ku-10km wezilinganiso ze-Athletics South Africa (ASA).