Former world champion Luvo Manyonga is ready to rebuild his ailing career

During his first briefing, Manyonga expressed his determination to revive his struggling career and return to the sandpit. As the brand ambassador of Clinix health centre, Manyonga has battled drug addiction for over a decade. He faced suspension in 2012 for 18 months and in 2019 for four years. Having turned to a life of crime to support his addiction, he is now on the road to recovery and self-discovery.

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''I think I still owe the world a last bar there - because my career didn't end at the moment. It was just a hiccup that I was not disciplined and did not follow on what the world wanted. I just did what I wanted to do. This time I was out, I had an opportunity to acknowledge myself that I was big and the world wanted me to perform. I need to put the last bar and next year it is the world champs. So I want to go, and after that I want to start coaching,'' said Manyonga.

Manyonga shared with the national broadcaster that he receives excellent support and that his life has taken a significant positive turn. He has been uplifted by the abundance of encouragement from well-wishers.

''I am at the right place, with the right people and with the support I am getting - my life has drastically changed. My life was not as clean as I am today, you can see my face, my body and my health is different,'' added Manyonga

Returning to the sandpit requires considerable effort, such as finding a new training facility, teammates, and a structured program. Nevertheless, Manyonga remains unfazed by this program, asserting that he only needs to rely on his God-given talent to complete his comeback successfully.  

Manyonga asserts that he hasn’t been following the sport since his ban, noting that not much has changed in the world of the long jump. He vows to reclaim his title as the best jumper on the planet.