14 Jan 2024

Comrades Marathon double champion; Tete Dijana will headline the First National Bank Kazungula Bridge Marathon (FNBKBM) to be held on February 24.

South Africa’s Dijana, 35, won the Comrades Marathon in two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

His participation was announced by the marathon chief executive officer, Obert Morgan during a press conference in Gaborone on Friday.

Morgan said since announcing Dijana’s participation, registration numbers had increased significantly as many athletes would like to rub shoulders with the champion.

He said they had also received enquiries from elite runners who wanted to challenge the champ and chase the 42.2km crown.

He said the participation of Dijana would inspire and motivate upcoming athletes and that his presence would help them to promote the Kazungula Bridge marathon to become one of the top races in the region.

The marathon, he said, had attracted runners from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho and Malawi.

Morgan said the race was a vehicle to grow the country’s tourism and that it would encourage infrastructure development, create employment and uplift living standards.

“Winning the Comrades Marathon has changed my life,” Dijana said at the press conference.

Dijana, who works as a security guard, said winning the marathon was a dream come true.

He added that he would use the Kazungula Marathon to prepare for a third straight title in the upcoming Comrades Marathon

National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA) deputy national coordinator, Batlhalefi Leagajang said NAHPA was a partner in the marathon because they were advocating for the prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Leagajang said the marathon was not just about running, but promoting and adopting healthy lifestyles.

He encouraged Batswana to eat healthy foods, quit smoking and to reduce excessive alcohol consumption, adding that they should make active physical training part of their everyday life.

He also urged all to take part in the fight against HIV and NCDs, adding that they contributed to 46 per cent of the country’s premature deaths. ENDS