Local athlete will run the Comrades
KwaThema – Nolewu Constructions and Sbuja Scrapyard and Constructions made Jabulani ''Banda'' Mashinini’s (40) dream of participating in this year’s Comrades Marathon a reality.
Mashinini’s transportation, accommodation, running shoes and race fees have been paid for, thanks to local contractors, Brandon Louw and Sibusiso Maseko.
With the help of local community leader Thulani Simelane, who reached out to the two contractors who normally work in the area, the sponsorship materialised.
Louw says he was touched when Simelane reached out and he saw this opportunity to help the athlete as a way of giving back to the community with which they work closely.
Maseko adds that helping the athlete is a form of encouraging sports in the community and allowing talent to flourish.
“It would be unreasonable to deny someone with talent the chance to participate in races because of finance; that would be talent wasted,” says the contractor.
Last year Mashinini received a Bill Rowan medal after finishing the Comrades in eight hours, and he plans to beat that time in this year’s race.
“I’m determined to do well this year in the Comrades; I want to push myself to so I finish in no more than seven hours,” says the athlete.
Mashinini thanks the two businesses for their assistance to enable him to participate in races.
