Every month the Northglen News will profile sporting heroes who compete across a wide spectrum of sporting codes. These could include World or SA Champions or even rising stars who look set to take the sporting world by storm. Either way, if they are excelling or are passionate about the sport they play, then they stand a chance of featuring as our ‘Homegrown Sport Talent’ page.
Eric Ngubane (left), is known as 'Nyamazane' on the road and trails around Durban. He is this month's sporting hero. PHOTO: Anthony Grote
IT’S a typical winter morning on the North Coast. The thrum of planes at King Shaka Airport echoes in the distance, the sky remains grey, the frost leaving a sheen across the grass. It is not quiet light out and the only light comes off a man’s reflective jacket. He limbers up and stretches as he prepares for his morning run. He sets off, initially his footfalls are heavy, his breathing light, within minutes however, he is silent, gliding around a route mapped out in his head. Eric Ngubane begins every morning like this, he is up at 2.30am and runs between 10 and 15 kilometres as part of his morning training run and in a week, he runs around 220km.
Ngubane is well known on the local trail and road running scene and has been given the moniker ‘Nyamazane’, which means buck in Zulu, typically referring to someone who is fast, energetic and athletic. The 33-year-old’s running CV is one of the most impressive ever seen, not only is he a four-time Three Cranes Challenge winner, a three-time Mont Aux-Sources ultra marathon winner, a two-time Hillcrest Marathon winner, but he has won 10 uMhlanga trail run titles. He also ran six Comrades Marathons, four Two Oceans Marathons and last year, he was selected for the South African team at the World Ultra Trail Champs near Lake Annecy, France. What’s more, Ngubane has, in some races, run from his home to the start line of the race, completed it and then run home.
Eric is known as the Nyamazane of the North. PHOTO: Anthony Grote
Northglen News recently caught up with Ngubane to find out where his running career began.
“I grew up in Cato Ridge and I would often herd about 13 cows, which would make anyone fit. I was always running after them to keep them in check. I would run about 13 kilometres just to get to school, so it was a natural progression into the sport. It became my escape and I loved being out on the open road. Eventually I got into trail running which is also something I really enjoy. And from there, the rest is history as they say,” he said.
Eric Ngubane SA winner of the World Run. PHOTO: Kolesky/ Nikon/ Red Bull Content Pool
The local runner is now preparing for the Comrades Marathon, where he hopes to better his time from last year.
“The Comrades Marathon is such a special and unique race for South Africans, it’s a race I’m honoured to be part of. It tests you both mentally, and physically and is the ultimate challenge. I’ve learnt that the real battle in the race lies within you. I’m not racing against anyone else, I’m racing myself and every year I aim to beat my previous time by 15 or 20 minutes. Right now, I’m focused and ready to go, this year’s marathon is going to be fantastic,” he said.
My Favourites Fave sports to watch: “It would have to be running, any marathon or trail” Fave food/cuisine: “I love natural, healthy food like amadumbe or pap” Fave TV shows/channels: “I don’t have any time for TV because I’m normally training” Fave musician/band: “That’s a tough one but I like gospel” Fave quote: “I don’t have one but the ‘Chariots of Fire’ theme music really gets me going”
