A bronze for young athlete

Aubrey Mabuza, the young Barberton athlete with the smile that instantly lights up a room, is back from Uganda where he competed in the Kampala Marathon.

May 21, 2014

2 minutes read

Apart from running the 10km individually and coming third in a magnificent time of 30:52. Mabusa’s relay team also won a gold in the 10km relay.

The team of four also comprised Amos Nigel, Olympics silver-medal winner from Botswana, Gian Ghebrehiwet, former Ethiopian junior cross-country champ 2013 and the South African Amos Tshape from Bethal, who came second in the recent Loskop Marathon. Nigel also competed with Mabuza in Ethiopia.

Since he’s gone to Ethiopia, he has also been training at high altitudes, which has helped him adapt when competing outside our borders.

“We ran in the rain and it was unbelievably humid. The athletes over there are very tall and dark. It is easy to spot the locals.

“The rules of the country were completely unfamiliar to us and in my opinion completely biased. Right from the start we were warned by the Uganda Federation Athletics Organisation officials, that should they suspect any homosexuality among our group, we will be executed.

“We are very lucky to live in South Africa.”Smiling from ear to ear, Mabuza said, “Our teammates each received a trophy and just for the fun, we were also given a soft toy, hugging a knee blanket.”

This toy was named after a young Ugandan boy, Nelio. On the day of their arrivals was a shoot-out between Ugandan police and locals in the market square.

Nelio, who was selling bananas with his mother, was wounded in the crossfire. After the race, and after receiving the toy, Mabuza went back to the square in search of the boy’s mother. His plan was to find out which hospital the child had been taken to, so he could present him with the toy as well as his running vest, but he couldn’t find her anywhere.

“During the coming week, the four of us have to go for drug tests and if we pass, we have to collect the big trophy in Johannesburg, together with our cash prize of approximately US$2 000.”

Mabuza plans on going to Zimbabwe in July, where he will take part in the 42km race in Harare.
“I want to thank all my sponsors, namely Barberton Ford, Land Rover and Volvo. Also, to Barberton Golf Club, for their willingness to give me time off for studies, training and marathons.”