The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha has praised the 2014 Comrades Marathon Winner, Bongumusa Mthembu for his great performance and making the people of KZN proud.
Mthembu’s win has ended many years of drought for KwaZulu-Natal runners to win this prestigious race. Sibhidla-Saphetha said that Mthembu’s great achievement will inspire many developing athletes to excel in sport.
“What makes his achievement remarkable is that he was a runner up in the 2012 Comrades Marathon. This will certainly send a strong message to our young athletes that nothing is impossible if you are committed and hard-working,” Sibhidla-Saphetha added.
Mthembu’s triumph comes at a time when the Department of Sport and Recreation in partnership with KZN Athletics are finalising plans to identify young and upcoming sport people in the province and provide them access to High Performance and Training Facilities to ensure they become gold medal contenders at international events.