BLESSING MDLALOSE
DESPITE the fact that he encountered difficulties when he was about to finish the Comrades Marathon with cramps, Mbuti Mollo felt that he had to sacrifice his bones and put out his last strength in order to finish the race (up run) from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
Mollo (27) of Maxed Elite took the lead in 5:21:31, in this race won by George Kusche in 5:16:06. Second place went to Piet Wiersma from the Netherlands with 5:19:36.
Mollo failed to win Comrades despite being ahead for a long time. He was overtaken by Kusche, who set a new record, with ten kilometers left to reach Scottsville where the race ended.
It turns out that Mollo was scheduled to help his teammates at his club, Maxed Elite, by putting them on the right pace, and then he left in the middle of the race. However, he ended up continuing as he felt ready to move up to Pietermaritzburg.
“Despite the difficulties I have encountered, I am getting cramps but I told myself that I will not stop seeing where I am looking. It means a lot to me what I have finally achieved in the Comrades, I will sleep well,” said Mollo who is from the Free State, who was training in Pietermaritzburg, under the supervision of coach Martin Ngwenya.
By coming in third place, Mollo won R334 000. It’s a big deal for him since last year, he didn’t finish the race. His wrestling led to him being counted among the winners of gold every year.
When asked if he will come back next year, he said: “I don’t know yet (he said jokingly). But maybe I am being made by these pains I feel.”