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Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
THE stage is set for the inaugural Masiyephambili Marathon to be held in Bulawayo tomorrow. A host of seasoned athletes are expected to participate at the first marathon in over 20 years in the city. By lunch time yesterday, 166 athletes had registered for the event with at least 250 set to register by end of day today.
Final registration is today at the Bulawayo Large City Hall and will run from 8am-5pm.
Thamsanqa Ncube, the marathon organising committee chairman, said the Masiyephambili Marathon would be one to remember.
The marathon, whose motto is “Our city, our marathon”, is part of festivities to celebrate 70 years since Bulawayo was granted city status.
“Look, we have other cities elsewhere in the world that have held good events and we want this Masiyephambili Marathon to be one to remember. This is the first time that we are having this event but the amount of support, the interest that it has generated from the athletes and the corporate world is marvelous.
“Everything is set and at this stage we can say we are ready to roll,” said Ncube.
Some of the corporate institutions that are supporting the Masiyephambili Marathon include PPC Cement who are sponsoring the first prizes for the full marathon, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority who are taking care of relay prizes, Autoworld Bulawayo and Edgars who will give away T-shirts.
Athletes have made their intentions of cashing in on the race with pre-race favourite Nkosiyazi Sibanda who hails from Matabeleland South Province declaring himself ready for the event.
“I am a marathon runner and I have been longing to participate in a full marathon here in Bulawayo. I have been training hard for this competition and I am ready to conquer on Sunday,” said Sibanda.
He comes into tomorrow’s race having won the inaugural Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Half Marathon in September.
The Banket Mine road runner last year won the Victoria Falls and the Two Countries Marathons.
Sibanda must expect stiff competition from Olympian Wirimai Juwawo, Michael Ngaaseke, Prodigal Khumalo, George Majaji, Cuthbert Nyasango and Kudakwashe Shoko who are some of the seasoned athletes expected in the Masiyephambili Marathon.
The top athletes in the women’s category that are expected to compete include veteran Samukeliso Moyo, Tabitha Tsatsa, Rutendo Nyahora, Constance Nyasango, Olivia Chitate, former Kujatana Nkubotu race winner Faith Nyasango and Hellen Chiundo.
The winners in both categories of the full marathon will take home $1 500, with the first runners-up getting $750, the third placed athletes $600 while the athlete that will cross fourth will walk away with $500. There is $500 for fifth placed athletes.
Prizes for the Half Marathon are as follows — $600 for the winners, $500 first runners-up, $400 second runners-up, $300 for position four and $200 for athletes who finish fifth.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter