Coach Hendrick Ramaala is conjuring up success with his training group at Zoo Lake

This past weekend marked a remarkable achievement as the four-time Olympian guided two of his athletes to become champions in consecutive events.

Precious Mashele reclaimed the coveted Athletics SA (ASA) title in Mbombela on Saturday.

The pinnacle of triumph, unfolded on Sunday when Ntsindiso Mphakathi brought an end to South Africa’s 12-year longing for a male victor in the African Bank Soweto Marathon, a feat last accomplished by Michael Mazibuko in 2011.

“We’ve got a solid structure and strategy at Zoo Lake, and perhaps a bit of luck is also smiling upon us. Anticipating the challenges of Soweto and being well aware of the prolonged drought, we’ve set our sights on some major victories next year. Our conquest begins with the Two Oceans, a triumph we celebrated this year, followed by the Soweto Marathon and the Cape Town Marathon. Being a local race, Soweto was a prize within reach, and we were well-prepared. Ntsindiso’s astute training for the Soweto Marathon was a testament to our meticulous planning,” In an interview with SABC Sport, Ramaala shared, “It’s all about the strategy. We had a formidable squad at the race, but Ntsindiso was our focal point, undergoing a unique training approach for the win,” said Ramaala.

Since 2017, Ramaala has been mentoring Mphakathi, who, just last year, achieved the remarkable feat of being the first SA runner to reach the finish line in fifth place at the Soweto Marathon last year.

Despite originating from the Eastern Cape, Mphakathi has become an embraced member of Soweto, residing on the very street that echoes the footsteps of marathon participants.

With the season now concluded, Ramaala is already gearing up for the upcoming year.

He intends to grant his athletes a well-deserved two-week break before they reconvene for camp on 1 December.