Latest news with #Dijana
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
‘This year I am not here to walk': Dijana out to fix mistakes in 2025 Comrades
Two-time Comrades marathon champion Tete Dijana says his excited at the opportunity to rectify what happened in last year's up run in this year's race on Sunday. Dijana was speaking during the media briefing ahead of the 98th staging of the world's oldest ultra-marathon on Thursday. Sunday's down run starts at Pietermaritzburg City Hall and ends at the People's Park outside Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Dijana said after the last year's race was marred by his cramping that saw him walking to the end, he had watched videos shared on social media. 'When I was watching some of the videos, I heard one of the coaches telling their athletes, 'Tete is walking'. This year I am not here to walk,' he said. Dijana is convinced no record will be broken come Sunday. The athlete who runs in the green of the elite Nedbank Running Club that dominates Comrades and shares the North West as a home province with 2019 winner Edward Mothibi, said clinching top honours would encourage the youth of the province. This sprint finish between Tete Dijana and Piet Wiersma was epic! 😮💨 #MoreThanAClub #Comrades2023 — Nedbank Sport (@nedbanksport) June 11, 2023 Dijana expressed gratitude to those who have rallied behind him to bounce back in the 2025 race. 'I will really dedicate my Comrades to those people who have supported me because last year I was really down.' Dutch 2024 champion Piet Wiersman was optimistic of his prospects of defending his title. As in 2024, he arrives fresh from a training camp at altitude in Kenya. Mothiba made his first Comrades 2018 down run where he finished fourth. The next year he caused a stir by winning the up run at its Scottsville racecourse finish. This became a memorable feat for Mahikeng-born athlete who overtook a three-time champion Bongumusa Mthembu for victory. Mthembu, who runs for the Arthur Ford athletics club, was absent during Thursday's star-studded press briefing. Mothibi, who also suffered a setback last year when placed 16th, said while he was left frustrated by that run, he remains as motivated as ever to replicated past results. [WATCH] South Africa's Gerda Steyn wins the 2024 women's Comrades Marathon. #DStv403 #eNCA — eNCA (@eNCA) June 9, 2024 'Failure does not mean you cannot go back and do it again. Pressure will always be there but you just have to be calm,' he said. Another contender who hopes to do well in this year's Comrades is 2025 Two Oceans champion Onalenna Khonkhobe. He said he plans to start the race upfront in this year's race. 'I am here to learn a lot from Comrades. But in three years to four years I will win Comrades back-to-back because it is my show,' he said to applause. Women's champion Gerda Steyn has done it all as winner of the 2019, 2023 and 2024 races, also holding the down (5hrs 44min 54sec) and up (5:49:46) run records. 'I try and find a way in which I think about how can I be better then I was last year,' she said. Steyn said coming into the race as defending champion comes with pressure. 'For me it's about the way you process the word 'pressure'. Whenever I hear the word I see it as 'support'. 'Not really pressure, but it's them [the public and her supporters] wanting me to succeed. Having the faith and belief in me that there is a chance in me succeeding in the race. 'I feel like we are athletes but we are also entertainers. There is a little bit of tactics involved. 'It makes for great watching and it brings a bit of light into our sports and its always something that I love when watching sports.' Steyn says she knows well the capabilities of her competitors very well. 'I am not unaware of it and I find it exciting.' Making her debut in the race is Irvette Van Zyl, 37, of Hollywood Athletics Club, who said she is excited to fulfil something so high on her to-do list. 'I am nervous but I am looking forward to it. Maybe one day I will come back and do the down run because it was actually in my plans to start with the up run. I am excited and let's see what happens,' she said=. Comrades board chair Mqondisi Ngcobo said in their preparations they reached out to Moses Mabhida Stadium to host the finish but due to ongoing repair construction at the facility it was impossible for that to happen. He said in the past the association had taken a flak from some athletes who complained about having to climb the stairs into the Stadium after in a grueling finish to the race. 'It is one of the things we paid attention to from our athletes when we got the feedback,' he said.
IOL News
15 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
The 'Happy Bunch' seek redemption at Comrades after dizzying setback
Edward Mothibi celebrates after winning the 2019 Comrades Marathon. Photo: SIBONELO NGCOBO Independent Newspapers Image: SIBONELO NGCOBO Independent Newspapers The Nedbank Running Club's training group, fondly referred to as The Happy Bunch, are looking to regain their joy at this year's Comrades Marathon following a forgettable outing in the 2024 Up Run. The 2024 edition of The Ultimate Human Race is sure to be chalked up by the group as an episode in their illustrious Comrades story best forgotten. Save for Dan Matshailwe finishing runner-up and Joseph Manyedi coming in fourth, there were no other gold medals for the group, who are accustomed to dominating the top ten. The duo have since left the group, leaving former champions Edward Mothibi and Tete Dijana, along with multiple gold medallist Johannes Makgetla, to carry the torch – the trio having 'seen dust' last year. For reasons still baffling to them, they – along with Galaletsang Mekgoe, who finished fourth in 2022 – all suffered dizzy spells during the race. Dijana, champion back-to-back in 2022 and 2023, was the worst affected – the sight of him hobbling along the road as his legs turned to jelly a sad, lingering memory from last year's race. He finished in 14th place. Mothibi did not fare quite as badly, but he too struggled inexplicably and ended up finishing two places behind Dijana. They are still reeling from what happened last year, despite Mothibi and Makgetla's assertions that 'we are over it'. The disappointment of failing to achieve a hat-trick of victories still lingers, and what hurts Dijana most is missing out on a green number. 'If I had won last year, I was going to get a green number,' Dijana lamented. 'But something happened that I still cannot explain. "I felt dizzy early in the race and later, my legs just could not carry me. It's painful. "Of course, I cannot say someone did me dirty. The reality is, though, you can't help having your suspicions. It's in the past, and we're looking forward to doing better this time.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Mothibi was also robbed of his green number. 'I was going for my fifth successive gold, and my plan was to finish in the Top 10 – then I would have got a green number. That was part of my plan. "Now I'm back to scratch chasing the green number, like all normal runners. What happened last year spoils the history I would have made at Comrades. Five successive gold medals is something people would have spoken about for seven years.' Makgetla says he felt dizzy from the 60 km mark and was shocked to catch up with Dijana during the race, only to find they were all suffering from the same symptoms. 'Last year was very bad, but I'm over all that. I've been through a lot in life, and this is just one more issue I've brushed aside. "I'm ready to go for it again this year. I've not been as fit as I currently am, and I'm aiming for a top ten. What happened last year messed up my plans – I had hoped this would be my last Comrades, but now I'll have to do another one.' Mekgoe, on the other hand, has had a tough time since that incredible fifth-place rookie finish, which left many expecting her to become the first black woman to win the Comrades. The 28-year-old has not come close to gold since and was tearful during our interview in the chilly, quaint tourist town in Mpumalanga. She attributes her struggles to the pressure of being a breadwinner. 'Everything is on me at home. My family depends on me, and I've always run under pressure, knowing I had to provide. It's been very tough. "I always felt I couldn't let them down, and that affected my running. I didn't run with freedom. As if that wasn't enough, I've also struggled with injuries in recent years,' Mekgoe says, before sharing a sad tale of her family's situation. While she previously relied solely on the monthly stipend from the Nedbank Running Club, she is now better off financially, having found a job in a mine in Carletonville. But although this has eased her financial burdens, it has robbed her of the time to train as an elite athlete. She now goes into the Comrades somewhat undercooked, her preparations not having been as thorough as in the past.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
All Roads Lead to KZN as Comrades Marathon Returns
Piet Wiersma of the Netherlands crosses the finish line at the 2024 Comrades Marathon – an up run. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix The popular cliché 'all roads lead to...' is often misused. For once, though, there will be some truth to it this week, as KwaZulu-Natal's (KZN) Pietermaritzburg and Durban become the destination of many. So here it goes: 'All roads will lead down the N3 south this week' as runners make their way to the 98th running of the world-famous Comrades Marathon. It is an annual pilgrimage that brings together people from all walks of life to tackle arguably the most gruelling road race in the world – the approximately 90km run between KZN's two biggest cities. This year's race will be run from the capital city, Pietermaritzburg, down to the commercial hub of Durban, with the biggest question on Comrades enthusiasts' minds no doubt being whether the flying Dutchman, Piet Wiersma, will unseat Tete Dijana as champion. Two years ago, Wiersma announced himself at Comrades with a compelling debut run that saw him finish a close second to defending champion Dijana – both runners dipping under David Gatebe's previous Down Run best time of 5:18:19. Dijana clocked 5:13:58, with Wiersma flying in just three seconds later. It was one of the closest finishes in Comrades Marathon history, with Dijana cheered on by the crowd as he sprinted towards the tape, Wiersma looming large behind him. The Dutchman, though a member of the Nedbank Running Club to which Dijana is also affiliated, had come from left field and stunned both Dijana and his training partner Edward Mothibi by sticking with them throughout – the duo having expected to replicate their one-two finish from the previous year (regardless of the order). Tete Dijana. Photo: SIBONELO NGCOBO Independent Newspapers Image: SIBONELO NGCOBO Independent Newspapers
The Citizen
22-04-2025
- The Citizen
‘Naughty' councillors out on bail
Clrs Jerry Djiana (MMC: Development Planning) and Busi Hlumbane (MMC: Technical Services) are out on bail. The two top-notch municipal officials were granted R10 000 bail each. This follows their weekend stay over behind bars after they were nabbed for allegedly taking gratification. Three counts of extortion and three counts of corruption are investigated against Dijana and Hlumbane, and a case of defeating the end of justice is also investigated against Dijana. The MMCs were arrested at Witbank Dam on April 17 in a Hawks sting operation. They were nabbed at Witbank Dam when they allegedly took gratification of R20 000 each. This is allegedly not the first time the duo took gratification. The Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, said the two councillors, aged 54 and 55 years old, allegedly received a previous payment of R40 000 that is part of an alleged R500 000 gratification demanded for the victim to qualify for the extension of a lease agreement. The councillor's vehicles were also seized. They are expected back in court on June 4. #emalahleni #Witbank #MMC ♬ original sound – witbanknews @witbanknews DA at Witbank Magistrates Court this morning stands against corruption in eMalahleni Municipality during the formal bail application for MMC J Djiana and MMC B Hlumbane, who were allegedly arrested for corruption and extortion. The MK Party also added their voice against corruption, emphasising the need for accountability. #witnbanknews Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok Chat to us: info@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
