'I always try my level best' - Mphakathi looks to become first man to defend Soweto title since 2016
With five gold medals in the last eight editions of the race, Ntsindiso Mphakathi will start as the overwhelming, favourite when he lines up at the start line of the 2024 africanbank Soweto Marathon tomorrow. Tata as he is affectionately known is the race’s defending champion after claiming a maiden victory in 2:19:13 last year. Taking on such experienced Soweto Marathon campaigners as Jobo Khatoane of Lesotho, Comrades Marathon champion and multiple Soweto Marathon gold medalist Edward Mothibi and Two Oceans runner-up and last year’s seventh place finisher in Soweto Nkosikhona Mhlakwana, Mphakathi knows that it won’t be easy to become the first man since 2016 to successfully defend a Soweto Marathon title. But the man who also won the City to City 50km race in April is confident in his preparations.
"My training went very well," he told #TheTopRunner after claiming seventh position at the N12 Half Marathon in Klerksdorp at the end of September. "For example I ran very well at the N12 Half Marathon. I was not expecting that time (1:04:53). I was expecting to be around 1:05, 1:06 or 1:07, so to run 1:04 was very good. I’m confident because of how I prepared for the race. I was a bit worried because I ran a few more ultras this year so I ran a bit less in the build up. But I’m happy because my time trials went well."
Having been born in the Eastern Cape before relocating to Soweto, Mphakathi is one of the real success stories of the race after becoming the first South African to win The People’s Race since Michael Mazibuko in 2011 and the first Soweto resident to triumph since Joshua Peterson in 1999. That the 34-year-old kept on trying long enough to win the race is a study in patience because he earned his first gold medal in 2014 when he took ninth place. The Entsika Athletic Club top runner says the secret to his success is that he never rushed it.
"Running is a career and it’s short. So to make it a little bit longer it needs you to have a passion for it. You must always give it all your time. It needs your time. That's why I've never worked anywhere. I just finished school and then drew a line straight to sports. I saw that there is life here and that this thing is going to take all my time so I have to be patient and try my level best."
Mphakathi's modest words belie the mind of a man who thinks deeply about his sport. A quality necessary to triumph in a race that is notoriously tough. Not to mention he will have to see of the likes of his Entiska AC teammate Givemore Mudzinganyama, 2-time Comrades Marathon champion Tete Dijana and reigning Totalsports Two Oceans Champion Onalenna Khonkhobe in order to claim line honours. Mphakhathi, like the 25 000 who have entered the sold out race, has his work cut out for him. Organisers of teh race which was first run in 1991, the Soweto Marathon Trust say they have made sure that the event which will be broadcast live on SuperSport is one to remember.
"We are thrilled with the support received thus far and promise an exceptional race! We encourage runners to tap into the hype and excitement surrounding the event: Your race packs are ready, the road is ready, and our race office is ready. We certainly hope you are ready for your race day – we look forward to hosting you," said the SMT’s Thokozani Mazibuko.
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