Mphakathi’s sights are set on top spot
NTSHINDISO Mphakathi will be out to improve on his third place finish from two years ago when he lines up for the 2019 Old Mutual Soweto Marathon on Sunday. And while second place will be an improvement, Mphakathi is only thinking about the top step on the podium.
Back in 2017, Mphakathi looked set to bring the title back home but died out later to be beaten by winner Tsepo Mathibelle of Lesotho and Ethiopia’s Sintayehu Legase.
It was a painful lesson that he took to heart.
“I was lacking speed. That is what cost me the race,” he lamented. “The mileage was always good but I needed speed, especially in those last few kilometres.”
To remedy the situation, Mphakathi changed coaches. He moved from ultra marathon specialist and former Comrades winner Claude Moshiywa to Hendrick Ramaala, the former New York Marathon champion who was a national half marathon record holder for many years.
“I moved from long distance coach Moshiywa to short distance coach Ramaala to work on speed. It has been working well for me so far.”
That much was evident at the ASA 10km Cross Country Championships where he finished in fourth position.
“I also ran some good times at the half marathons in Nquthu (68:32 for a runners-up berth) and Hammarsdale earlier this year,” Mphakathi gushed.
Ramaala does not even think it was lack of speed that robbed the young man of victory in 2017.
“He was lost at the end in 2017. He needed support with drinks but there was no-one to do that for him. We will be there to help him this time. He knows Soweto very well. He knows the road conditions and the weather.”
While he skipped last year’s Soweto Marathon, the 2017 third place was his second top 10 finish in the popular township race,
Mphakathi having came in at ninth position back in 2013.
He is sure to draw further inspiration from those runs as he looks to become the first South African man to win the race since Michael Mazibuko in 2011.
While he acknowledges the dominance of the foreign brigade, Mphakathi is not afraid of the Lesotho, Ethiopia an Kenya contingent in the race.
“I am used in running with them. We all have two legs. They also get tired like us. I am ready to compete with them on Sunday. The second place finish in Diepkloof Half Marathon 10km that I ran last week is giving me hope and a belief that I can even do better than previous times in the race. But I do not want to reveal it all now. Wait for race day and you will see.”
While Mphakathi is clearly thriving on the pressure that South African runners are under to ensure the title comes here, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to translate that confidence into victorious action on Sunday.