Raymond Jaravaza
“IT hurts but I will not comment further on the Durban Marathon issue as my manager and the athletics authorities are currently seized with the matter”. These are the words of marathon runner Isaac Mpofu.
A few days ago, Mpofu lost out on a R50 000 windfall after winning the Durban International City Marathon, held in the port city last Sunday.
His crime?
Not displaying two license numbers — on the back and front — on his shirt. Away from the furore that surrounds the circumstances that led to Mpofu losing his prize money, B-Metro Sport tracked him down for a prompt sit down with the man-of-the- moment.
Growing up in the Datatongwa area in the vast district of Binga, running long distances came naturally to Mpofu. Born 34 years ago in Hwange, he grew up in Binga where he completed his Ordinary Level education at Tinde High School.
Schools are generally sparsely distributed in the district so walking or running considerable distances to school is the norm for schoolchildren.
And that was the case for Mpofu growing up.
“I only started running professionally when I came to Bulawayo after finishing school. But running was a daily routine going to school so it came naturally that I later took an interest in marathons,” Mpofu told B-Metro Sport.
Just three months ago, Mpofu stood on a podium to collect yet another international award — the Kazungula Bridge Marathon medal.
And he did collect his prize money.
The Durban Marathon would have been the second race in as many months that Mpofu would have lined his pocket. But it’s a chapter he would like to put on the back burner for now.
“I have been on multiple podiums for winning different races and I believe hard work is the only road to winning more events,” he declared.
Mpofu is employed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
“I’m stationed at the ZRP Fairbridge Police Camp. It’s an honour to work for the civil service and still be able to fulfill my dreams of running marathons in and out of the country,” he said.
The sky is the limit for the Binga-bred marathoner whose knack for collecting medals has become second nature to him.
