Trinityhouse coach Sabelo Dlamini wins Continental Tour Race, eyes world champs

Trinityhouse Glenvista High School athletics coach Sabelo Dlamini was celebrated for his recent performance at the World Athletics Continental Tour in Dubai, UAE.

Sabelo dominated the 400m hurdles, winning in 49.89 seconds, but said he expected a better performance.
“It felt amazing to finish first, but I wasn’t happy with the time. I was about one second slower than I hoped,” he said.

The race earned him World Athletics points and secured him a spot at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year. He expressed his expectation to win but felt uncertain due to the long flight and fatigue.

According to Sabelo, the Continental Tour awards more points because athletes compete against some of the best.

“They make it easier to qualify for major global tournaments. I was privileged to be invited to run internationally. It was amazing running with top athletes and a bit nerve-wracking,” he added.

Sabelo raised the SA flag abroad, representing not only his country but himself, with his eyes on the World Championships.

“It’s a major confidence booster to represent myself and my stakeholders. I’m working hard to secure sponsors and compete in more major tournaments like the Diamond League and World Championships,” he said.

Sabelo is in the world ranking quota thanks to strong points and placements. He aims for automatic qualification.

“I’m working hard to achieve it, but winter makes speed work harder on the body,” he said.

He offered encouragement to youth aspiring to reach the top level.

“They should stay in their lane and work hard. I lacked infrastructure and support when I was younger. Varsity gave me the tools to succeed. It’s never too late to achieve your goals,” he emphasised.

Sabelo joined his first national team at 27 and won his first national title at 30. Next year, he aims to qualify for the Commonwealth Games and approach the national record.