Local long-distance runner Timothy Munzhelele is confident that he will do well in the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, which takes place on 15 April. Munzhelele is in excellent form and even managed to win gold in the SPAR Tzaneen Tuffy 4-in-1 Marathon the past weekend.
The athlete from Makonde, who competes under the banner of the Murray & Roberts Athletics Club, completed Saturday's race in Tzaneen in just over two hours and 45 minutes. The week before he finished fourth in the Marakele Marathon.
He was very happy to have won the marathon in Tzaneen. "It was a tough race for me, but everything went as planned. I didn't expect this to be such a fast race," he said. Last year, he ended second in this race.
Munzhelele started running during his high school years at Nyadzani Secondary in Thengwe. "Everything comes from commitment and focus. I am focused and determined because I run for a living, and with the support I get from my team, I hope for the best."
He spends most of his time training. "I believe that sports will help me prepare for my future. Participating in sports helps you to succeed in other areas of your life as well. It makes you more focused and driven," he said.
He acknowledged and thanked all the people who have sponsored him throughout his running career. "Many people have sponsored me financially, morally and encouraged me to work hard. If it were not for them, I don't think I would have made it this far," he said.
His advice to other athletes who want to achieve their goals is to stay focused and put everything in God's hands.