MulaSport’s E20k for TZD Marathon
MBABANE – In what will come as a sweet melody to athletes, the TZD Lubombo Marathon will return with improved prizes.
This was revealed by the Director of TZD Sports, Zakhele Dlamini, during the launch of the Lubombo Marathon yesterday at Sigwaca House. The three-pronged race will be held on April 1, 2023 at Siteki Sports Ground.
Athletes will compete in the 42.2km, 21km and 10km. The winner in the marathon will take home E2 500, while the half marathon winners will take home E1 500. Betting company Mulasport Eswatini has donated E20 000 towards the Lubombo Marathon.
“I know, as I stand here before you that the second edition of this event was supposed to have been held in 2020.
Suffered
However, just like all other important sporting competitions, the Lubombo Marathon suffered the documented effects of the notorious COVID-19 pandemic, which grounded the entire globe in a way that was never seen before,” said Dlamini.
The second edition occurred after TZD Sports had successfully held the maiden edition in 2019, which already showed glimpses of greater future going forward, until the pandemic struck.
“We have kept our cool during the COVID-19 era, refusing to be pessimistic about the future. When the window of opportunity opened, we seized the opportunity to bring back the Lubombo Marathon, now with great vigour, driven by some air of optimism,” added the director.
He said with the approval of the athletics mother body (Athletics Eswatini), TZD Sports was pleased to announce that this year’s edition will be staged on April 1.
“In fact, Athletics Eswatini has sanctioned that the annual Lubombo Marathon be held on the last Saturday of the month of March every year going forward. The event will no doubt breathe some air of prestige towards our region, given that Lubombo has always been capable of breeding passion and fun with a great social impact,” he said.
He said to this end, they were proud to announce that the second edition would be action packed in the true sense of the word, as it will have a full marathon 42.2km, a 21.1km and 10km categories.
“The route for the 42.2km will commence at the Siteki Sports ground and run towards Mhlumeni Border Gate and back, while the half marathoners and the 10km runners will use buses to their starting points as we did with the first edition,” he said.
Attract
He also disclosed that in view of the prize money at stake, they were expecting to attract top athletes from within and beyond the borders of the kingdom.
“As a club, we are intentional in our quest to deliver quality and this could only be achieved through assembling the best runners for the competition. It is also very significant for us to continue to ensure by all means that the event is accessible and enjoyable for everyone,” he said.
ABOUT TZD MARATHON
Date: Venue:
April 1 2023 Siteki Sports Ground 42.2km, 21km, 10km Registration fee: E150
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Meanwhile, MulaSport’s Desire Scott said donating the E20 000 was a way of giving back to their customers.
Others who made speeches were Eswatini Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) CEO Maxwell Jele, AE Vice President Harry Malindzisa, Dixie’s International Sales and Marketing Officer Mlungisi Simelane. Other companies that sponsor the marathon in kind are Inyoni Irrigation, Dixie’s, Bible Society, Eswatini Auctioneers and Lobuhle Transport.