Ntsindiso Mphakathi issues a heartfelt appeal to the Soweto Marathon organisers

Mphakathi, who made history in 2024 as the first local male winner of the 42.2km race in over a decade, appealed to the Soweto Marathon Trust to go beyond the proposed R250,000 prize and introduce additional incentives to encourage South African runners.

Speaking to SABC Sport, he emphasized the need for extra rewards to motivate local talent to aim for victory.

"I've been running this race for so many years, so for me if the organisers can just be fair and celebrate the local runners, then I'll be happy. It's a race that invites all the runners from around the world, including the locals," said the former winner of the famous race.

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The former City-to-City 50km ultra-marathon champion admits that winning the People’s Race has been a tough challenge since he first began competing in the event back in 2013. 

Still, he remains committed, and he is preparing by doing long runs through the streets of Soweto, where he lives with his wife and two children in a home he purchased with the prize money he earned from the race.

"It's a difficult to race to run, but you have to simply believe in your abilities and what you've been doing in training.

"I prefer to use tempo runs to get my body and my rhythm where it needs to be," explained the experienced athlete. 

The Intsika Running Club star says he’s reaping the rewards of being coached by four-time Olympian Hendrick Ramaala at the Zoo Lake training grounds. 

He adds that their partnership goes back many years, and they’ve built a strong working relationship over time.

The 35-year-old told the national broadcaster that he will begin training next month as part of his mission to reclaim the Soweto Marathon title from last year’s winner, Onalenna Khonkhobe. 

He credits the Intsika Running Club for transforming his life and enabling him to provide for his family.

"Intsika is a different story, the club changed my life. I come from a very poor background and life was difficult for my family, so I am immensely grateful that I found this club in 2019."