By SIVE FAITH GINYA
Makhanda athlete Thembinkosi Madyogolo, famously known as ‘Teabag’, came back bearing an eighth silver medal from the Comrades Marathon.
This year was his twelfth Comrades and his eighth medal placing. His dream is to complete 20 races.
“I am left with eight years to reach my dream,” Madyogolo said.
Among the five Makhanda athletes who participated in this year’s race, Madyogolo was the first to cross the finish line. He clocked 7 hours 30 minutes.
He first participated in the Comrades between 2005 and 2007 when the late Eric Mampara financially supported him.
He said he first became an athlete at primary school, where he represented Albany Schools mainly in long distances (5000 to 10 000 metres).
From there, he was selected to represent the PE district, where he interchangeably came first or second in his races.
He was selected to represent the South-Eastern School Sports District Union under the South African Senior Schools Sports Association (SASSSA) at the interprovincial games in the Western Cape. He won SASSSA’s black and gold colours.
He later joined a local club, Harmony, where he ran the local 10 – 20 km and upwards.
Later, he started running 42 -56 km in the Two Oceans Marathon. He represented the Eastern Cape in the international Two Oceans Marathon Games, where he got gold for the team prize. He then ran the Comrades marathon up run.
Madyogolo once participated in the Southern Africa Inter-Municipal Sport Association games (SAIMSA) in Windhoek and came second out of 18 municipalities represented and won three gold medals in various categories, including fastest runner.
The Makana Municipality acknowledged Madyogolo’s achievement in a Facebook post.
Madyogolo said he was proud of himself but also participated for Makana.
Two runners died in the race this year. Madyogolo said this year’s race was a down run. “In this run, you lose a lot of energy because the gravity forces you. You must use every single power within your existence to restrain the gravity pushing you.”
Madyogolo’s friend Marius Mapaling said he was proud of Teabag’s achievements.
“The endurance that these athletes undergo during the preparations is challenging. I was happy for Teabag, and he gave me the honour to put the medal around my neck”, Mapaling said.
Madyogolo said he is thankful for the support from Ivy Madyo, Luvuyo Sizani, Makhaya Dyibishe, Mohammed Sonday, and Phatuxolo Simile.
He also thanked Prof Kenneth Ngcoza for allowing his son, Nkosindiphendule Mbasa Ngcoza, to train and run the race with him.
This year was Ngcoza’s first crack at the Comrades. He ran 10 hours and 8 minutes and returned home without any injuries. The proud Madyogolo said he is willing to train other athletes.
On 17 October, Madyogolo will run the 42km Sanlam Marathon in Cape Town.
