A few weeks after securing their seventh consecutive DStv Premiership title, four Mamelodi Sundowns technical members were among thousands who completed the 85.91km Comrades Marathon race on Sunday.
The Marathon, known as ‘The Ultimate Human Race’, is the world’s oldest ultra-marathon. Over 20, 500 runners tackle the challenging 85.91km course from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in KZN.
This year’s race was won by Piet Wiersma from the Netherlands who finished in a time of 5:25:00 seconds. South African Gerda Steyn won the Women’s Comrades Marathon, setting a new course record of 5:49:46.
The football fraternity was also well represented with some football writers and officials also participating. Four of them who completed their race and made the 12-hour cut-off time on Sunday are the technical members of the 2016 CAF Champions League winners, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Those members are Performance Analyst Dayle Solomon, Physiotherapist Godfrey Sepuru, Team Doctor Paul Maphoto and Head of Medical Carl Tabana.
In the Comrades, Matharon, Solomons and Sepuru have now completed three races, while Dr Mathoto finished his fifth and Dr Tabana completed his seventh.
DAYLE SOLOMON SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON THE COMRADES MARATHON
“It was very difficult. it was literally just backing everything that you have. Your cycling shoes, your running shoes and your equipment,” Solomon told SuperSport TV.
“In every country you land, you try to spend time [training]. That’s the only way possible. It’s very difficult to follow a programme because you are always at the airport, always on the plane or in the hotel watching the opposition.
“So it gives you minimal time to focus on your training. So it’s difficult but I really want to get a coach for next season because this thing is brutal, we have to be honest.”
PERFORMANCE ANALYST TAKE INSPIRATION FROM THE MAMELODI SUNDOWNS WINNING MENTALITY
He says the winning mentality at his club has pushed him to also achieve his personal best at the Comrades Marathon.
“I think it’s a championship mentality that we have every season. You have to keep going. Today honestly has been a difficult year for me all around. But today I just had to dig deep considering all the circumstances.
“So it’s just the Sundowns’ success that rubs on you as a human. The other guys also push you through the right to the end. So there is no holding back because if those guys do it week in and week out, there is no reason you can’t do it.”
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