ZITHANDE PARTNERS WITH SHUKUMA FOR SIMUNYE FRIENDSHIP RUN

MBABANE – Barely two weeks after the taxing Imbube Marathon, long distance runners have the Simunye International Friendship Run to conquer on October 21.

The third edition of the Friendship Run organised by Zithande Athletics Club is expected to attract athletes from across all clubs and those from nearby South Africa. The run has forged a partnership with the Shukuma Swaziland programme pioneered by the Swaziland National Sports and Recreation Council (SNSRC), hence the 2017 theme of ‘Shukuma your body, your business’. The run is dubbed Simunye, as it promotes the spirit of unity among athletics club and relations with international athletes.

The route of the Friendship Run is 90 per cent gravel, starting from Mafutseni towards Luve then across the rural Bhekinkhosi, Kukhanyeni, Nyakeni and Maliyaduma areas to Mavuso Sports Centre in Manzini. It goes past seven rivers and showcases the beauty of the country’s landscape and ideal for adventurous runners. “The idea is to encourage people to train wherever they are, hence this particular one is staged outside the Mbabane Manzini corridor. You realise the running fraternity has the potential to bring people together which augers well with our objective. We feel our goal is being achieved in terms of athlete development and uniting runners, testimony to that are results of our athletes in international events mainly and the number of people who have taken to the road,” said Zithande Athletics Club coach Nsizwa Thwala.

Shuttle buses will be available for athletes on run day, leaving Mavuso Sports Centre at 4.30am to the respective starts of the three categories, 42.2km (Mafutseni), 21km (Kukhanyeni) and 10km (Maliyaduma). Zithande is the only club to have achieved back-to-back silver medals at the Comrades Marathon through Ntokozo Mamba and Blessing Kunene.

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