Gijima Athletics Club runner, Yanga Malusi (23), is preparing to participate in the SA Champs event which will be hosted in Johannesburg on March 10.
Gwadana Village-born in Mbhashe, Malusi was also aiming at competing in the Cape Town 21km race which he won last year, but unfortunately his team registered his name too late after the deadline registration of the event, and it means he will no longer take part.
The Cape Town 21km is expected to take place on April 18, and he told Mthatha Express that his team had registered his name to the competition too late, and his entry form ended up being rejected.
He said his focus now is the SA Champs event, where he is going to compete in the 10km race, and should he win he will be part of SA team that will compete with other countries in the next competition.
“I’m working hard preparing for the SA champs event, and I hope I will perform well in Johannesburg,” said Malusi.
He said that although he is disappointed because he will not be able to defend his 21km race, his focus now is on the SA Champs event and the United Kingdom event where he will participate in the annual London 42km Marathon, in April.
Malusi said he is looking forward to both competitions, as they are very important to his athletics career, and he also highlighted that his team has already organised things like accommodation when he goes to Johannesburg.
For the UK event he said he is still looking for financial support, from those who can assist to pay for his visa, flights and accommodation.
Malusi said that all those who are interested in supporting him can contact him at 065 689 6935, and the UK event is scheduled to take place on April 21, so by end of next month he is expected to pay everything related to his journey.
Malusi is a well-known athlete, as he used to run for Mbhashe-based teams like Zwelonke Athletics, Boxer Athletics Club and others, before he decided to join Gijima Athletics Club from Mdantsane.
The reason he joined the Mdantsane team is that there are no longer teams in Mbhashe and Mnquma competing in high level events, like the Gijima Athletics Club.
