Shirley leaves legacy of 8 Comrades medals

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MANZINI – Shirley Motsa died with having won eight Comrades Marathon medals. Shirley passed away a week ago, tragically in a road accident while jogging along the Ngwenya-Manzini Highway around Manzana in the capital. According to her obituary, the Golden Foot Athletics Club member was a consummate sports personality who excelled in any sport she chose to partake in.

This was during her memorial service which was held at the Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral yesterday. It is worth mentioning that the Eswatini Cycling Association (ECA) had organised a procession ride from Dups Funeral Home, where a close to a thousand mourners joined the bereaved families and friends.

“Running was her first passion which she developed in 2001 under the Golden Foot Club and she even ran the prestigious Comrades Marathon. She has under her name eight medals with her personal best time being 10 hours and 13 minutes,” read part of the obituary.

It was said in 2008; she then joined NewComm Wheels Cycling Club and earned many podium finishes. Aged 47, she died while she was a treasurer at Eswatini Cycling Association (ECA).

“Shirley has ensured that her boys followed in her sporting footsteps, with Siphosethu attaining 13 medals and three trophies in cycling, soccer, athletics and hockey,” stated the obituary.

It further revealed that the younger child, Owethu who is aged six got his first podium finish in the previous edition of the 2Fast, 2Furious Cycling Race, where he was number one.

She was laid to rest today’s in Siteki.

(Pics: Nimrod Hlophe) Two Golden Foot Club athletes in a sombre mood at the beginning of the Shirley Motsa’s Memorial Service that was held at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral Church yesterday.

Eswatini Cycling Association got the wheels rolling from Dups Funeral Home to the cathedral in a procession ride of the fallen top cyclist.