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Nkosiyazi Sibanda

Sports Reporter
THE Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Trust is expected to meet with the Bulawayo Athletics Board today to set a date for the second edition of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Half Marathon. In an interview yesterday, the trust’s chief executive officer, Jabulani Hadebe said, “logistical challenges” forced them to postpone this year’s race which they initially wanted held in July to a date yet to be announced.

Last year’s edition, which was won by Matabeleland South based runner Nkosiyazi Sibanda in one hour five minutes 42 seconds, was held in September.
The race, which starts at the late Vice-President Nkomo’s Matsheumhlophe home and finishes at his Pelandaba house, is likely to be held next month.

“We are meeting tomorrow to finalise on the date. The event will not be held this month and we are meeting BAB to find out the best date. The race is definitely on and we are working flat-out to make it even bigger and exciting than the first edition,” said Hadebe.

Besides the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Half-Marathon, BAB are left with two events in their calendar that is the Choppies Nkulumane 10km Fun Run and the return of the Hope Fountain Road Race which is traditionally held on the first weekend of November.

The Choppies Nkulumane 10km Fun Run is held every December and because of the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games set for Bulawayo, the race will be brought forward.

“After our meeting with the organisers of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo race, we will finalise on the dates for the Hope Fountain Road Race and the Choppies 10km Fun Race. The good thing is that all the organisers of these races have confirmed to us that they will go ahead and have to take place before December because of the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games coming to Zimbabwe. I think we will have an exciting end towards the end of the year and hopefully athletes are preparing for the Bulawayo races,” said BAB chairman Manuel Mpofu.