Comrades athlete, 57, gets green number
This master athlete needs sponsorships to go participate in his next Comrade Marathon.
Randfontein’s Alpheus ‘Oupa’ Mogale, 57, has forged with an ocean of sweat a name for himself in South African athletics.
Alpheus, athlete number 33 660, has been awarded membership to the Comrades Marathon‘s green number club.
A green number is only issued when an athlete who has had three wins, five golds, or over 10 medals. The concept was first introduced in 1972.
Alphus is a member of the Sunninghill Striders and participated in more than 3 000 long distance marathons while at the club. He became the first black member of the club when he joined in 1987.
He went on to be part of the first Striders team that participated in the Comrades in 2006. This year will mark his 11th consecutive Comrades Marathon.
Alpheus no longer has employment and is struggling to get back on the horse.
He is in distance running for the long haul and plans to participate in the Comrades for many years to come like Wally Hayward who had a 60 year career in running. He completed his last Comrades before his 81st birthday.
Alphus has kept himself busy by pumping his knowledge back into Randfontein by training young athletes who have dreams of one day conquering the Comrades. He trains children in Mohalakeng where he lives.
The Comrades veteran has been canvasing for sponsorships in the past few months. Unfortunately, he could not secure funding for his 11th consecutive Two Oceans Marathon registration and unfortunately will miss it.
He approached the West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) in a bid to raise funds for his upcoming qualifying events for the Comrades Marathon.
So far the WRDM gathered funds for him to participate in the Gift of the Givers Township Marathon in Eldorado Park on Sunday, 6 March. The Om-Die-Dam Marathon is coming up and this master athlete is in dire need of a more fixed arrangement.
The WRDM is calling on the West Rand community to lend Alpheus a helping hand as he is a true ambassador of the region.
Any sponsors interested in investing in Alpheus can contact Melinda du Plessis, PA to the West Rand executive mayor on 011 411 5002 for more information.
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