Mayor sends support for local Comrades athletes

POLOKWANE –

On August 17, Mpe spoke at a send-off gala dinner that was held in honour of the athletes who will participate in the marathon on August 28. He said their qualification is an impressive milestone to achieve and he hopes it will motivate them to strive for excellence.

“I congratulate everyone who qualified. As a fellow runner, I know what it takes to qualify for the Comrades: It takes dedication, persistence, discipline, a lot of courage and endurance. You have not only qualified to achieve a personal goal, but for the Polokwane residents and the district as well, as you will represent their pride and aspirations during the world’s oldest and largest ultra marathon. Your qualification to compete marks the beginning of an enormous journey to overcome all odds in a mission to succeed in a very challenging task,” Mpe told the athletes. He added the city will support the athletes, from both Polokwane and the Capricorn District, with two buses to ferry them from Polokwane to Durban and back.

“It is one 22-seater and one 39-seater luxury bus, which were made available to those who qualified for the marathon but cannot afford the transport. We know it is not going to be an easy race, considering that the route is a ‘down run’ all the way. This will require strategy and maximum endurance throughout the 90km run. The people of Polokwane and the district will rally behind you and encourage you as you carry our banner.”

Mpe said, as an avid runner, he would have loved to be on the road with these stellar athletes.

“I would have loved to participate in the Comrades, but I did not qualify. I will be at the event to support the athletes and participate in the 10km fun run during the race. I hope to qualify next time.”