TOP marathoner Tšepo Mathibelle and his wife ’Mathabo were both breathing fire when they won the 15km Onesi Guesthouse race in the men and female categories respectively on Saturday.
sports
Dec. 7, 2020
TEBOHO JAFETA
3 min read
Mathibelles dominate Onesi Guesthouse race
Top marathoner Tšepo Mathibelle
The event which was organised by the Onesi Guesthouse located in Ha Abia, Maseru comprised a 15km walk, the 15km race and a one mile race for boys and girls aged below the age 15.
The three-in-one show that kicked off near the Holy Spirit Church and ended at the Onesi Guesthouse ran through a cool cloudy weather condition, preferred by most athletes.
Two traffic police officers on motor bikes and two volunteers on bicycles escorted the participants throughout the event to ensure their safety.
In an interview after the race, Mathibelle said he ran a tactical race and spent the best part of the event following his opponents.
“Some were fast pacers but I knew at that pace, most would run out of steam fast so I just kept pushing them hard coming from behind,” he said.
He admitted the competition that most of the contestants pulled was indeed tough, saying that winning the race was not a walk in the park for him.
He commended the district athletics leadership for organising a series of cross-country events since August at the height of COVID-19 lockdowns, adding that those activities helped him to stay in shape throughout the time.
The Manager of Onesi Guesthouse 'Mathabiso Queen Sekhoahla said the purpose of the race was to help promote athletic activities and give young people a chance to portray their talent.
For his part, the Vice President of the Maseru Athletics Academy Teboho Sello appealed to the sports fraternity to support emerging businesses that invest in sports, especially athletics.
He said the management of Onesi Guesthouse understood the predicament of most local athletes since the advent of the pandemic in Lesotho that is why it did not charge any entrance fee for athletes to enter the race.
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“Most athletes have been hit hard by the pandemic, therefore they are unable to support their families like they did before,” Sello said.
Onesi Guesthouse founding father who is also a renowned athlete himself, Motlalepula Khobotlo said athletic events are quite scarce in Lesotho, adding that going forward, their plan is to host at least two races a year.
“The purpose of the event was to among others unearth young talent and to use the race for the athletes to qualify for major national and international events,” Khobotlo also said.
The Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC) Assistant Programmes Manager 'Malitsietsi Zwakala said the purpose of the mother body of sport is to ensure that everyone participates in sports.
“We intend to roll out new sports programmes at the grass roots level where every village will form sport clubs for the communities to stay active and involved in sports,” she said.
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