Muzhingi gets Seed Co boost

package includes a training kit, fuel for the whole of this year and the seed company, Seed Co, will also cater for his food and accommodation as he prepares for the race.
Speaking at a handover ceremony held at the company’s headquarters in Borrowdale yesterday, Seed Co group chief executive, Morgan Nzwere, said Muzhingi’s dedication to the sport inspired them to support him.
“Steven Muzhingi is a very successful Zimbabwean brand who has won many races as an athlete. He has run and won the Comrades Marathon in South Africa for three successive years.
“He is now preparing for this year’s edition of this prestigious race on the world’s annual racing calendar. He has done remarkably well in the New York marathon and other international meets.
“He has achieved all this success through very humble means. Based on his medals haul, Steven is a committed, dedicated road runner whose vision is to conquer.
“We at Seed Co, being the continent’s largest seed company, have seen it fit to lighten Steven’s burden of resource mobilisation.
“We want Steven to train for the 2012 Comrades Marathon in the best possible way. We have decided to assist Steven by providing him with all the necessary training kit from head to toe.
“We are also fueling his car every month so that he is able to travel to his training venue without any difficulties. We will also take care of his food and accommodation in an area which he himself has identified to train for the marathon,” Nzwere said.
Nzwere also said there is more in sport than what meets the eye and encouraged the three-time Comrades Marathon champion to form his own athletics club to develop other local talent.
“As Seed Co, we believe that there is more in sport than physical fitness. Kenyans and Ethiopians have become rich from long distance races,” said Nzwere.
Muzhingi is now an Air Force of Zimbabwe employee and Air Commodore John Jacob Nzvede said they are confident that Muzhingi will retain the Comrades Marathon title again this year.
“I am aware that Steven has participated previously in the Two Oceans Marathon and he did well in that and even in the Comrades Marathon. He has done it before without sponsors.
“Now what is left is for Steven to show his appreciation to Seed Co, Air Force of Zimbabwe and the nation by bringing back the trophy.
“The Air Force of Zimbabwe is confident because he is physically and mentally fit. To Seed Co we say let this corporation continue and to Muzhingi raise the nation’s flag high and bring the trophy back home,” said Nzvede. Muzhingi was grateful to Seed Co for their support and his employers said the sponsorship will go a long way in promoting athletics.
“I want to thank Seed Co for recognising athletics because most sponsors turn to supporting soccer only”.
“In the previous years, I have been running without local sponsors and I am very excited about this gesture.
“This sponsorship coming from Seed Co is not for Muzhingi only but also for other runners training with Muzhingi. I am not doing this for my own purpose but for other athletes to benefit. I am going to form my own club,” said Muzhingi.
Muzhingi said he is targeting to break the record at this year’s edition of the Comrades Marathon.
“I have already started preparing for the race. Since I came back from New York, I have been training and I have started serious preparations.
“I will be going to Durban in March to prepare for the Two Oceans Marathon but my focus is more on the Comrades Marathon. This year it’s a down hill run and I want to break the record,” said Muzhingi.