Johannesburg - The excitement in Banele Sindane’s voice was palpable. And with good reason too.
As he anticipates Sunday’s Nike Soweto Marathon, the race director could not hide his glee at the fact that the race was not only happening but was going to do so with a sponsorship to boot.
“You have no idea how fulfilled we feel right now,” Sindane said on Wednesday “The feeling of excitement that we all have, it’s like we are little kids with new toys. There is excitement, and anxiety and everything in the cooking pot - but we are definitely ready.
“If they were to say the marathon should take place tomorrow, we’d be ready as all is in order.”
The Soweto Marathon did not take place last year due to lack of sponsorship.
“To have Nike come on board as sponsors is a real blessing because while the race was cancelled in 2013, our problems stretched further than just last year. From 2010 to 2012 we ran the race without a sponsor and that was very hard.
“But when no-one else seemed interested in helping us out, this year Nike came on board and said they will come in and help us to re-launch the marathon,” Sindane explained.
And it promises to be a massive re-launch with no less than 21000 athletes said to have registered for the three events (the 42.2km, 21km and 10km races).
“Given the circumstances we’ve just talked about relating to our previous lack of sponsors, the response we have had is incredible. It is for this reason that we cannot take for granted the support that people give to the Soweto Marathon. And we will never cease to apologise to them for the race having been cancelled last year.”
This year’s route has been tweaked a little and Sindane anticipates a faster race.
“Unlike in the past races which went anti-clockwise, this year’s one will be run clockwise. It means the runners will move from the starting point in Nasrec and go straight to Baragwanath.
“The good thing about this is that there will be very little traffic congestion at the Bara area as compared to the past when they ran past there towards the end of the race. This should help make for some fast times.”
Among the big names who have registered is Comrades Marathon former champion Ludwick Mamabolo as well as the 2012 women’s champion Mamorallo Tjoka.
Soweto’s own athletics star and former South African Sportswoman of the Year Mapaseka Makhanya has registered to run the 21km event for her debut in the race.
Sindane urges runners to fetch their race packs from Constitutional Hill and not Nasrec where they traditionally fetch them.
“The race packs will be available from Thursday between 9am and 7pm and will be available until Saturday, but they have to go to Constitutional Hill,” Sindane emphasised.
“To us this marathon can be as big as some of the biggest and best in the world. Next year we are hoping to reach double the figures of this year.”
The Star