Running on inspiration
Despite a number of issues, the runners meet up four times a week at the uMhlathuze Regional Sports Complex to train.
NRB Harriers Athletics Club runs on motivation, fuelled by a hunger to excel.
Hard work, blood, sweat and tears contributed to the club’s success at the 2016 Comrades Marathon.
The Richards Bay club had 65 entries in the most gruelling road race in South Africa (89.13km) and finished with six silver medals, finished eighth in the team rankings and only had six athletes not crossing the line.
Bongani Mdletshe finished 33rd out of 14 603 runners with an impressive time of 6.06.05 (4 minutes per kilometre).
Fellow club runners Sfiso Chili (6.14.14), Bhekisisa Luthuli (6.53.43), Siphiwe Cele (7.04.18), Thokozani Sibiya (7.10.23) and Moses Maphumulo (7.20.17) all bagged well deserved silver medals.
Road runners
Founded in 2012 by Jabulani Zungu and a group of friends, the club has achieved much in a short time.
Zungu arrived in Zululand in 1995, joining the Nashua Richards Bay Athletics Club in 1998.
He branched off and opened the club with the sole focus of helping disadvantaged runners in 2012 and has never looked back.
‘By working together with other clubs in the area and supporting each other, we can make the sport grow in the local community,’ said Zungu.
Despite the impressive Comrades performance, many club runners steal podium finishes in local races and finish at the top with professional runners.
With 60% of the club’s members being unemployed and the club not having a sponsor, getting to races, paying for entries, getting new shoes, buying race numbers and getting a club running vest are just a few issues that every club athlete has to face.
The lads do not even have a clubhouse.
But despite these issues, the runners meet up four times a week at the uMhlathuze Regional Sports Complex to train.
The Sport and Recreation Department at the uMhlathuze Municipality provide access to the athletics track for the runners to train on.
Zungu, who has participated in seven Comrades, completing six and is chasing his green number, coaches the runners.
They follow Norrie Williamson and Lindsey Perry’s online training programmes that focus on strength, speed and endurance.
‘I believe that everyone should have an input,’ said Zungu, which is the club’s key ingredient for success.
If anyone is interested in sponsoring the club for the new season, please contact Jabulani on 073 7998900.
