adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
THE country’s top athletes are expected to participate in the Masiyephambili Marathon to be held next month following the postponement of the Gutu Half Marathon which had initially been scheduled for 26 October.The annual Gutu Half-Marathon will now be held on 30 November and this means that athletes who were torn apart to choose which event to participate in are now expected to attend the Masiyephambili Marathon on 3 November.
Masvingo Athletics Board chairman Titus Madzingo, a member of the Gutu Half-Marathon organising committee, confirmed that they have rescheduled the competition.
“As you may be aware, this event is one of the biggest on the Naaz calendar and in a move meant to make sure that the competition is bigger and better, the organisers have decided to move the date from 26 October to 30 November. We are trying to mobilise resources so that the athletes are well rewarded,” said Madzingo.
There were fears within the athletics sector that some of the athletes would not have enough time to recover after the Gutu Half Marathon so that they can also participate in the inaugural Masiyephambili Marathon.
Dailes Bingadadi, the Bulawayo Athletics Board secretary-general welcomed the development and said they are assured of having a competitive field for the Bulawayo meeting.
“To us this is a blessing in disguise for real because we were faced with a situation whereby other top athletes would have decided to snub the Masiyephambili Marathon for the Gutu Half-Marathon or vice versa. We are looking forward to having top athletes coming down for our marathon,” said Bingadadi.
The Masiyephambili Marathon whose motto is, “Our city, our marathon” is part of festivities to celebrate 70 years since Bulawayo was granted city status.
Registration for the marathon has already started and each athlete will pay $10 while relay teams will part with $15 to compete in the marathon.
Some of the athletes expected to participate in the Bulawayo race include Banket Mine’s Nkosiyazi Sibanda who won last year and this year’s Econet Victoria Falls and the Beitbridge Two Countries Marathon. Sibanda also emerged victorious at last month’s inaugural Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Half Marathon.
Olympian Wirimai Juwawo, Michael Ngaaseke, Prodigal Khumalo, George Majaji, Kingstone Maringe and Sipho Ncube are some of the seasoned athletes expected at the Masiyephambili Marathon.
Sibanda has vowed to take the title to Stanmore near Gwanda where he started his athletics career.
“I was happy to win the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Half Marathon and now I am looking forward to coming first at the Masiyephambili Marathon. I prefer full marathons and I believe I am going to do well. I have been training hard and I am sure that it is going to be a good event,” Sibanda said.
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