'I need a new start' - Motlagale joins Phantane
Former SA Marathon Champion Tumelo Motlagale has become a latest athlete to change allegiance at the start of the 2025 season. Motlagale has decided to swap the red of the Boxer Athletic Club for the yellow and green of the Phantane Athletics Club. Since its inception in 2013, Phantane has been one of the most progressive elite development running clubs in the country under the leadership of founder and renowned athletics coach Mdu Khumalo. Motlagale who is bringing an end to his eight successful years with Boxer, says it was time for change.
"Yes, I have joined Phantane Athletics Club," he told #TheTopRunner. "I think everyone knows the club very well. It wasn't an easy decision to leave Boxer but I think in life there is a time for change. I have been representing Boxer with pride and honour for many years and I'm grateful to them for giving me such an opportunity. Even Rhyn Swanepoel (Boxer Athletics Manager) didn't believe when I said I want to leave the club. I need a new start," explained the top runner who is the holder of a 2:11:15 marathon personal best set at the 2022 Durban International Marathon.
The 38-year-old who is the son of former SA international runner Adam Motlagale says his main objective for the year is to go faster. Last year, Motlagale enjoyed a good season which included eighth position (2:12:47) at the Durban International Marathon and a lifetime best 29:08 at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K. Then the man from Zeerust in North West then ended the year perfectly with 2:20:18 clocking to finish in seventh position at the hot and hilly Africanbank Soweto Marathon at altitude in November.
"The main goal for me is to run fast. I know its doable as I'm coming from a good season. The most important thing is to have a good marathon time. Another thing, next year (2026), I'm moving to the ultra marathons and I feel the transition will be a good thing for me. So it is important I move to ultras with good times," said the man who represented South Africa at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon.
Khumalo believes having an athlete like Motlagale will boost his club in a long run. "It's good that we have managed to get an athlete like Tumelo. He is one of the top performing marathoners in the country. We understand his targets for the year and we will do everything to assist him to achieve them. He also has plans to do the ultra distance in the future and we are in full support of that. I'm happy to have him in the club," said an elated Khumalo.
Despite bringing Motlagale, Khumalo says they won't ignore the core vision of the club which is development. While retaining Olympians such as Prudence Sekgodiso and Tshepo Tshite, Phantane 10km and track specialist Cwenga Nose who joins the Durban-based club from Gqeberha where he had been coached by Mike Mbambani at Ikamva. Cwenga, Sekgoidšo, Tshite and the clubs other track athletes will be pleased to hear that incentives will be on offer for outstanding performers on the track.
"Our club serves the purpose of unearthing new talent. Most of prominent runners started on track so we must not ignore it. Last year, the club introduced incentives for top track performances. Should one of our athletes win gold medal at the national championships, then he/her will be rewarded with R5 000, silver medalist earns R3 000 and a bronze medalist walks away with R1 000. Then at the KZNA provincial championships, a gold medalist pockets R3 000. It's our way of encouraging athletes to take track seriously."
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