Thabang Mosiako out to defend his national half-marathon title

The ASA Championships, featuring the Nelson Mandela Bay Marathon, is set to commemorate a decade of existence on 01 June.

The event organizers are pulling out all the stops, offering a substantial prize of R100 000 to honour the race’s 10th anniversary.

Following his recent triumph at the Two Oceans Half-Marathon on Sunday, Mosiako exudes confidence as he gears up for the upcoming challenge.

“In my pursuit of excellence, I’m determined to surpass my personal best of 59:52 in the half-marathon, achieved at the World half-marathon in Riga, Latvia last year. Surpassing this milestone signifies a personal victory and positions me to reclaim the national title in the 21.1km event held here in Gqeberha.  While some athletes aspire for Olympic qualification or return to track and field championships, my focus lies elsewhere. At 29, I recognize the responsibilities of age and prioritize providing for my family. Road races offer lucrative opportunities, and I intend to capitalize on as many as possible,” shared Mosiako during his interview with SABC Sport.

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Mosiako’s coach, Mike Mbambani, announces that following Mosiako’s participation in the Portugal half-marathon earlier this year, the athlete is now gearing up to compete in a race abroad.

Three years ago, Mbambani warmly welcomed Mosiako from the North West Province and has since transformed him into a formidable champion.

“Thabang’s next venture takes him to France on May 3rd for another 15km competition following his commendable sixth-place finish in the Lisbon half-marathon. Bursting with confidence and at the peak of his performance, he’s gaining invaluable exposure that fosters our athletes ‘development,” Mbambani shared with the national broadcaster.

“We are also gearing up for Thabang’s participation in the national half-marathon, where he holds a strong prospect of defending his title and clinching the prize money,” added Mbambani.