Anaso hopes for fast start with new coach
Sprinter faces Munyai, Makwala at Ruimsig meet
Star sprinter Anaso Jobodwana has hailed the input of his new coach as he works his way up after a difficult past year.
The 25-year-old has joined forces with coach Tebogo Matibedi at Tuks Sport in Pretoria and the 2015 IAAF World Championships bronze medallist is hoping the partnership will yield positive results in the build up to the Commonwealth Games in April. Jobodwana is part of SA’s 4x100m relay team at the Gold Coast, Australia games.
“Coach Thabo is trying to help me with my block start; it’s slacking a bit,” Jobodwana told Sowetan at the launch of the inaugural Athletix Grand Prix in Roodepoort, West Rand yesterday.
The 2012 Olympic finalist will headline a loaded 200m field in the opening leg of the lucrative three-meet series at Ruimsig Stadium tomorrow.
He will go head-to-head with Clarence Munyai, 20, who he beat in the 100m final at the Gauteng North championships last weekend.
Jobodwana said he was already in the middle of finishing his block of training when he relocated from Durban High Performance Centre where he was based last year.
Matibedi, 34, steered Tshenolo Lemao to the IAAF U-18 World Championships 100m title last year.
“Coach Thabo is young and he’s gaining experience. He said he has ideas on what to do to get me better. I’ve already seen that he’s got a lot of input that will be valuable for my growth,” Jobodwana added, although he was not sure if the partnership with his new mentor was long term since he still had to go back to the US.
“If things go well, who knows; we can’t just mess something that’s gonna work,” said the lad from Phakisa township near King William’s Town, Eastern Cape.
After going down to Jobodwana in the short dash final last weekend, Munyai predicted another fierce battle tomorrow, in a strong field that also has Retshidisitswe Mlenga (200m U-18 world champion) Justin Walker, Trentavis Friday (both US), Isaac Makwala (Botswana), Luxolo Adams and Hendrik Maartens.
“I think we can go sub-20 if we execute the race well. But I’m not obsessed about time but winning the race,” warned Munyai.
Joshua Cheptegei from Uganda is the star attraction in the 1 500m final.