Mtolo and Msia repeat their Non-Stop Dusi heroics
The duo surprised even themselves as their goal was to make a podium finish at this year's Non-Stop Dusi.
DEFENDING champions Msawenkosi Mtolo and Thabani Msia survived an early scare to retain their Gardens City Commercials Non-Stop Dusi title on Friday last week, showing a maturing pedigree at the tough the Dusi-in-a-day.
Starting half an hour later than usual due to the month-long shift in the KZN canoeing calendar, Mtolo and Msia shadowed early leaders brothers Raymond and Mlandeni Radebe out of Pietermaritzburg before making their move.
But as they negotiated the tricky Musson’s Weir on the outskirts of the city, Msia picked a line that landed them on rocks in the low uMsindusi River.
“I made a mistake and we damaged our boat at Musson’s and we were disappointed with that,” Msia said at the finish. “We have to thank our seconds because without them we would not have got to the finish line.”
They kept their composure, repaired the damage as best they could and then started to seize control of the race for overall line honours.
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In the end the result was a convincing one, and surprised Mtolo who was just hoping that they could challenge for a spot on the podium when they set off from Camps Drift on Friday morning.
“We had a good day today and didn’t come into the race expecting to win, we were hoping for a top three,” Mtolo said. “We got an early lead and decided we would just go. We didn’t feel any pressure after our mistake because we knew we had a good lead so we just kept our heads down and continued to extend that lead and run over Burma Road. The decision to run over Burma Road was just so we could make sure that we kept our boat in one piece to the finish line.”
Coming home in second place over eight minutes and 25 second behind the winners was Makhanya and Zondi while the patient duo of Thomas Ngidi and Sbonelo Khwela ended third, 24 minutes further back.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
