Thabang Mosiako aims for his fourth sub-28 finish in the Gqeberha 10km race

Under the guidance of Mike Mbambani, named Coach of the Year by Athletics South Africa (ASA), at Ikhamva Athletics Club in Gqeberha, Mosiako believes his familiarity with the Friendly City gives him an edge.

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The competition promises to be fierce, with national 10km record holder Precious Mashele, boasting a time of 27 minutes and 35 seconds, and last year’s three-time series winner Kabelo Mulaudzi also in contention.

Mosiako, well-versed in the streets of Gqeberha, anticipates a swift race and is among the favourites to claim the R30 000 prize reserved for the top male and female finishers.

Moreover, there’s a hefty bonus of R50 000 for breaking the national 10km record and a whopping R200 000 for clocking under 27 minutes.

Expectation for this year's event is palpable with high stakes across the five races in Gqeberha, Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane, and Johannesburg.

Mosiako expressed. “My goal is to run a sub-28 minutes. I am based in Gqeberha and the first race takes place there; that is the extra motivation I need to win. I acknowledge that there is tough competition, but I also fancy my chances,” said Mosiako in an interview with SABC Sport.  

“I am thrilled about this first race, especially since it’s our local event, and we’re geared up to compete against other runners. It could mark my first 10km fast-paced race against other runners. We’ve dedicated ourselves to rigorous preparation, eagerly anticipating race day. I’m in excellent condition, both physically and mentally, driven to give it my all,” he elaborated.

Mosiako has already completed three sub-28 minutes mark in the Run Your City series, His personal best is 27 minutes and 45 seconds, which the 29-year-old clocked in an event in November in France last year.

Last year, he was the first South African to cross the finish line at the World Half-Marathon Championships in Riga, Latvia, clocking 59 minutes and 52 seconds to secure a sixth-place finish.

He is not lacking in confidence as he is fresh from the Lisbon Half-Marathon, where he clocked his personal best in the 21km in a time of 1 hour, 01 minute, and 42 seconds on 17 March and couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season.

“Our coach, Mike Mbambani, motivates us to give it our best shot and run faster in each race. That is the plan for next month and beyond. Consistency is key, that is what he always preaches about,” Mosiako added.