ORGANISERS of the Joshua Mqabuko half-marathon aimed at honouring the legacy of the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo set for Sunday, said they were expecting a huge turnout at the inaugural event.
SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER
Athletes from around the country are expected to converge in the city to participate in the competition to be sponsored to the tune of $7 000.
Chief executive officer of the Joshua Nkomo Foundation.Jabulani Hadebe, yesterday told Southern Eye Sport that preparations were on to host the race.
“The total prize money is still $7 000 although we are going to announce our major sponsor on Wednesday (tomorrow) or Thursday in a Press briefing,” he said.
The marathon is expected to start from Joshua Nkomo Museum, the late Vice-President residency, to his house in Pelandaba.
The athletes will proceed and pass through Hillside, Southwold, Nketa 7, Tshabalala, Nkulumane Complex, Sizane High School and turn before getting to the Pelandaba house.
Hadebe said they were expecting a good turnout.
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“We are hoping to have 300 professional athletes, 300 from primary schools as well as 150 athletes from secondary schools who will do the 3x7km relay. The marathon is open to any interested local athletes or from outside.
“The competition is important because we have the primary schools category as well so as to encourage youngsters to participate in sport at a tender age. We are also having the marathon because the late Vice-President wanted prosperity in Zimbabwe across the whole divide which also included sport, arts and culture,” he said.
The winner of the 21km race in the men’s section will pocket $800 while the winner in the women’s category will get $500.
However, if a female athlete comes first in the overall 21km race she will be awarded the men’s category first prize of $800.
The other categories in the competition include juniors who will participate in the 3x7km relays.
Primary schoolchildren and the veterans will run the 5km race from Nkulumane Complex to the Pelandaba house while the wheelchair category will compete in the 21km race category.
Winners in the primary and veterans’ categories will pocket $100. Winners in the wheelchair category will pocket $500 while winners in the junior category will receive $300. Hadebe said registration would be expected to end at 8pm on Saturday.
