UMPETHA we-African Bank Soweto Marathon ka-2023, uNtsindiso “Tata” Mphakathi, uthi ukubezela kwakhe yikho okugcine kumwelise ngelibanzi edla umhlanganiso okokuqala kulo mjaho abesezame amahlandla amaningi ukuwunqoba.
UMphakathi (33) unqobe iSoweto Marathon 42km ngesikhathi esiwu-2:21:13 eshiya uDaba Ife Debele wase-Ethiopia okunguyena obevikela isicoco salo mjaho awunqoba nyakenyeke.
Kwabesifazane umhlanganiso udliwe wu-Irvette van Zyl ngesikhathi esiwu-2:34:16, eshiya uSelanm Gebre wase-Ethiopia.
Ukunqoba iSoweto Marathon kukaMphakathi kusho ukuphela kweshobolo leminyaka engu-12 lokwehluleka kwabagijimi baseMzansi ukunqoba lo mjaho obesekulokhu kukhonye kuwo abagijimi bangaphandle.
Kwakugcine ngoMichael Mazibuko ngonyaka ka-2011, ukuthi lo mjaho unqotshwe wumgijimi waseMzansi.
“Ukuwina kwami lo mjaho kusho lukhulu kimina ngoba kade ngangizama ukuwunqoba. Ngonyaka odlule ngaphuma endaweni yesihlanu, kwathi ngo-2017 ngaphuma isithathu. Kusukela ngo-2013, ngagijima okokuqala kulo mjaho ngilokhu ngizama kungalungi.
Iningi labagijimi baqhamuka ngaphandle ngakho bekuyinselelo enkulu ukuqhudelana nabo ekuwunqobeni, okuyingakho ngijabule kakhulu ukugcina ngiwunqobile ,” kusho uMphakathi odabuka ePort St Johns, e-Eastern Cape, kodwa osezinze eDube, eSoweto.
Ebuzwa ukuthi yini ehlukile ayenzile emjahweni wakulo nyaka, uthe: “Umzila walo mjaho unzima kakhulu, udinga ukubekezela nesikhathi esanele ukuwulungiselela. Ngenhlanhla ngingomunye wabagijimi abakwaziyo ukuyibamba emzileni eqinile, okuyingakho unyaka nonyaka uma ngigijima kulo mjaho bengilokhu ngingena ezindaweni ezingcono noma ngingawinanga.
Ngakho-ke ngibekezelile. Futhi-ke angigijimanga imijaho eminingi kulo nyaka. Ngigijime iPrince Mangosuthu Ultra Marathon, ngase ngigijima iComrades Marathon. Ngemuva kwalokho, ngibe sengigijima iRUN YOUR City Joburg 10km ngoSepthemba, ukuzihlola ukubaqatha kwami, ngagijima imizuzu engu-31 ngase ngitshela umqeqeshi wami ukuthi nginomuzwa wokuthi kukhona okuhle engizokwenza kwiSoweto Marathon. Wavumelana nami wabe esethi kuzomele ngisebenza kakhudlwana ekwenyuseni isivinini sami.“
Lo mpetha osenqobe iPrince Mangosuthi Ultra Marathon yebanga lika-52km iminyaka ilandelana ngo-2022 nakulo nyaka, ucijwa yinkakha kamakadebona kwezokugijima, uHendrick Ramaala ngaphansi kwe-Entsika Athletic Club.
Ngeledlule ngenkathi ekhuluma naleli phephandaba, lo mgijimi wakubeka kwacaca ukuthi abagijimi bakuleli kufanele bazisole bona ngokukhonya kwabagijimi bangaphandle kwiSoweto Marathon, nokuyinto agcine eseyilungisile. Uthe usebheke ukwenza kahle kwiTwo Oceans ngonyaka ozayo.