Michael Seme sends best well wishes to son ahead of world champs

This prestigious event is set to take place in India on 5 November.

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The South African team will commence their journey to Hyderabad on 1 November, led by Enock Skosana, who serves as the chairperson of road running for Athletics South Africa.

Sikhumbuzo, under the guidance of his father, Michael represents the Hollywoodbests Athletics Club and is a dedicated member of the Sponge Training Group, an initiative established by his father in Tshwane.

He will be accompanied by a skilled squad for the competition, featuring Dan Matshailwe, Nkosinathi Mhlakwana, Gladwin Mzazi, and Pule Sibeko.

Their sights are set on India, where they aim to make their mark in the championships.

In an interview with SABC Sport, Michael expressed the following about Sikhumbuzo’s upcoming journey to India: “Sikhumbuzo must dedicate himself to hard work. His trip to India is not a vacation: It’s an opportunity to represent his country with distinction and prove his rightful place on the team. He should prioritize his performance over taking selfies. In the realm of athletics, he is not my son but my athlete. At home, he’s my son, but on the field, he’s, my athlete. My counsel to him is clear: focus on the race, strive for speed, and realise your potential for an even better time. His physical condition is excellent, and we wholeheartedly wish him success in the race,” said Seme.

In the June Comrades Marathon, Sikhumbuzo emerged as the top-performing runner hailing from Kwa-Zulu Natal, clinching the 11th position with a time of 5 hours, 30 minutes, 5 seconds.

His outstanding achievement earned him a commendable reward of R60 000 from the KZN government.  Nevertheless, there is a sense of concern within the ranks as Michael apprehensively contemplates the proximity of the Comrades Marathon to the impending World Ultra-Marathon in India.

This nearness in timing may potentially impact the performance of the athletes bound for the international competition.

“In all honesty, the timing of the Comrades Marathon, in close proximity to the event in India, raises concerns, the athletes are still in the recovery phase, and I believe they may not be adequately prepared for such a significant race. The prospect of securing medals is far from guaranteed. The Two Oceans Marathon, which took place in April provided a more favourable timeline, affording them additional preparation time compared to the Comrades. I have doubts about whether they’ve had sufficient time to get fully ready, but time will tell,” Seme added.