Chris Hani district municipality mayor Mxolisi Koyo and athletics legend Xolile Yawa have lauded the Chris Hani Marathon as a growing event with the potential of being a “world-beater” in the near future.
The duo were speaking following the fourth edition of the annual event.
Koyo said the growing number of participants proved that Hani’s legacy was still relevant.
The municipality’s vision was to use the race to drive rural development in the Sabalele village – Hani’s birthplace – promote healthy living and the development of athletics in the area.
Koyo said the race, which follows the exact distance Hani walked to and from school in his childhood, also seeks to promote the importance of education to young ones.
“This is to inspire the youth and see to it that Chris Hani’s legacy and values are in action,” said Koyo.
He said the growth of the race was helping market the area to the world and would bolster local tourism.
“We are moving towards having this event becoming one of the most popular road events in South Africa and produce athletes, especially young ones who will become international stars in this sport,” said the mayor.
Yawa concurred, saying: “I see this as a growing race, I see it as a world-beater and I see it as a race that is going to put Eastern Cape in the spotlight.”
According to Yawa, the race was also special because it is the only official race in SA, outside cross-country, that is run on gravel.
Running the race on gravel, he said, would help develop athletes with endurance and potential to dominate when running on a tar road.
“One day we will have an athlete coming from this area who will go on to represent South Africa in the World Championships or event at the Olympics,” said Yawa, who won the Berlin (Germany) Marathon in 1993.
Yawa bemoaned the dearth of athletics in the rural areas of the the Eastern Cape and the province’s failure to be accounted among the best in roadrunning.
This resulted in Eastern Cape marathons being won by outsiders, which was the case in the Chris Hani Marathon at the weekend when the main race was won by KZN’s Siyabonga Nkonde.
Yawa said the province’s below-par performance was largely due to lack of development structures which meant “not enough is being done to unearth the raw talent that is there”.
This was tragic as it reversed the gains made by the likes of Mthatha-born Zithulele Sinqe, who was among the leading long-distance runners in the world during the 80s and 90s.
“We need to go back to the basics, such as ensuring that athletics, especially at school do not become a seasonal thing but continue through the year and set up running clubs in villages which is currently not happening at all,” said Yawa. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
Hani race opens up new frontier
The duo were speaking following the fourth edition of the annual event.
Koyo said the growing number of participants proved that Hani’s legacy was still relevant.
The municipality’s vision was to use the race to drive rural development in the Sabalele village – Hani’s birthplace – promote healthy living and the development of athletics in the area.
Koyo said the race, which follows the exact distance Hani walked to and from school in his childhood, also seeks to promote the importance of education to young ones.
“This is to inspire the youth and see to it that Chris Hani’s legacy and values are in action,” said Koyo.
He said the growth of the race was helping market the area to the world and would bolster local tourism.
“We are moving towards having this event becoming one of the most popular road events in South Africa and produce athletes, especially young ones who will become international stars in this sport,” said the mayor.
Yawa concurred, saying: “I see this as a growing race, I see it as a world-beater and I see it as a race that is going to put Eastern Cape in the spotlight.”
According to Yawa, the race was also special because it is the only official race in SA, outside cross-country, that is run on gravel.
Running the race on gravel, he said, would help develop athletes with endurance and potential to dominate when running on a tar road.
“One day we will have an athlete coming from this area who will go on to represent South Africa in the World Championships or event at the Olympics,” said Yawa, who won the Berlin (Germany) Marathon in 1993.
Yawa bemoaned the dearth of athletics in the rural areas of the the Eastern Cape and the province’s failure to be accounted among the best in roadrunning.
This resulted in Eastern Cape marathons being won by outsiders, which was the case in the Chris Hani Marathon at the weekend when the main race was won by KZN’s Siyabonga Nkonde.
Yawa said the province’s below-par performance was largely due to lack of development structures which meant “not enough is being done to unearth the raw talent that is there”.
This was tragic as it reversed the gains made by the likes of Mthatha-born Zithulele Sinqe, who was among the leading long-distance runners in the world during the 80s and 90s.
“We need to go back to the basics, such as ensuring that athletics, especially at school do not become a seasonal thing but continue through the year and set up running clubs in villages which is currently not happening at all,” said Yawa. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
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