The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
LAST Sunday, seasoned athlete Tabitha Tsatsa successfully defended her Econet Victoria Falls Marathon 42,2 kilometre women’s title when she hit the finish line in two hours, 57:06 seconds at Victoria Falls Primary School.
Not only did Tsatsa achieve her third success in a row at the magnificent race, the 44-year-old entered the marathon not sure if she would win it since she is still recovering from a leg injury she suffered when she was hit by a car during the JM Busha event in Harare on 25 May. Tsatsa was struck by a speeding motorist after just 5km into the race and even though she kept going for another 17km, the injury forced her to pull out.
“I was knocked down by car on 25 May in Harare. I don’t know what went wrong. I think I was lucky, if he didn’t hit me he would have hit a group of runners. I continued for another 17km since I didn’t feel anything at that time, my leg was numb but the pain was too much later then I stopped,’’ said Tsatsa.
Even though the driver was caught while trying to flee, it appears he might have given a wrong address to the police as they are having difficulties locating him. Tsatsa said she is having challenges in fine tuning for races with the only help coming from the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe.
“Naaz are assisting me to go for physiotherapy but I am having difficulties in training. I got no compensation from the driver because the police can’t locate him,’’ said Tsatsa.
Her aim during that JM Busha Marathon was to qualify for the World Athletics Championships set for London, England in August. She felt that she could have secured her place in London because the course for the event in Harare was “not that challenging”. She prepared for Victoria Falls by competing in the Old Mutual 10km Nkulumane Fun Run at the beginning of this month.
“I felt happy to defend my title in Victoria Falls, I wasn’t sure about this one. I couldn’t believe my time, I am so grateful. But the prize money is still small, the shoes are getting expensive and the money is not enough. They should include a category for juniors, they need to be encouraged so we can have tomorrow’s athletes as well,’’ said Tsatsa.
She pocketed $900 and got a smartphone as well as airtime for being the Best Female Veteran, ahead of her close friend, Samukeliso Moyo who was third in the women’s marathon behind Lizih Chokore in second place. Zambian Matthews Mutanya also got $900 for being the winner of the men’s race ahead of Zimbabwean veteran Mike Fokoroni.
Born 18 September 1972, Tsatsa who grew up in Rusape has been earning a living from athletics since 1999. Having worked as a maid in Harare after school, Tsatsa always had a passion for running from a young age after being encouraged by her mother.
“I grew up in Rusape and started running when I was in Grade One, my mother encouraged me, she was also an athlete when she was young. After finishing school I worked as a maid in Harare, I also did catering, cutting and designing,’’ she said.
Her passion for athletics had not died with her break finally coming in 1999 when her sister who lived at Morris Depot took her for a race at the police training base. She did not even have an idea that the competition she entered was a final qualifier for the World Cross Country Championships in Northern Ireland. She triumphed and was sent to represent the country in that event.
“One day my sister saw people running at Morris Depot, she heard there was a cross country race and took me there. I won and went to the World Cross Country Championships in Northern Ireland. My first coach, Tapfumaneyi “Tap tap” Jonga used to run as well, that’s where I met him. He was a good runner, he gave me a good background,’’ Tsatsa said.
She started off with 800m and 1 500m where she believes she did well but did not get any recognition. Tsatsa then moved to road running where marathon runner Abel Chimukoko helped her much in terms of training.
“My coach started coaching me 800m and 1500m. I think I still have one of the fastest times for 800m of two minutes seven seconds. I kept on running but was not being looked at so I left the track and moved to the road. Abel Chimukoko assisted me on how to train for marathons,’’ she said.
Tsatsa moved to Germany which really improved her road running as she met Kenyans who gave her training tips. She represented the country at the 2007 All Africa Games in Algeria where she finished seventh in the half marathon. Tsatsa went to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing where she settled for a disappointing 49th in the marathon.
In South Africa, Tsatsa has swept everything on offer except the Comrades Marathon. She set up base in the neighbouring country from 2004 and only comes to Zimbabwe to train as well as compete in local races. Tsatsa has won a number of marathons across the Limpopo River, among them the City to City, Cape Town, Two Oceans and PetroSA.
From these proceeds, Tsatsa, who is not married and has no children managed to buy herself an eight-roomed house in Saint Mary’s, Chitungwiza in 2007. She has over the years mentored up-and-coming road athletes in the country.
“Athletics has made me see the world. I have been coaching young athletes from less privileged backgrounds like myself and there is so much talent in the country. Some of them are Rudo Mhonderwa who is 21 years old, she ran 21,2km but she got lost in Victoria Falls, I am staying with her in South Africa. I am also helping Patience Garauziye the winner of 21km in Vic Falls. Fortunate Chidziwo is another one, she was doing boxing, I helped her with her training,’’ she said.
Tsatsa, who holds the Zimbabwean female marathon record of two hours, 29:20 seconds set in 2008 in Seoul, Korea has some words of advice for youngsters who wish to surpass that milestone. Her view is that most of the athletes use a lot of illegal substances which has seen most of them not last longer in the sport.
“If these youngsters want to beat my times, two hours, 29 minutes in the full marathon and 69 minutes in the 21km, they should work harder or ask me how to do it. Most of the youngsters nowadays use a lot of drugs, they should run naturally, you last longer,’’ Tsatsa said.
The fifth born in a family of six, three boys and the same number of girls, Tsatsa lost her father when she was just two years old. She has no plans to retire from the sport because she wants to motivate more females to take up athletics.
“I love running, I can’t spend a day without running and my day can’t be complete without running. I have done so much with running. Women are few now, especially veterans, so I want encourage more females to get involved in athletics,’’ said Tsatsa.
She is not slowing down as she is taking part in today’s Tanganda Tea Half Marathon in Mutare. Tsatsa trains twice on a daily basis with her programme determined by what race she would be preparing for. She also helps out at St Mary’s High School but because she is in South Africa for most parts of the year, her time with the youngsters is limited.
“I train every day, twice a day dependinon what I am preparing for. I love coaching as well, I help out at St Mary’s High School. It’s a pity I don’t have time, I should be helping whole of Chitungwiza. I live in South Africa for most of the time and only come home to train,’’ she said.
Tsatsa, Moyo (43) and Mike Fokoroni (39) continue to serve as an inspiration to up-and-coming road runners in Zimbabwe and South Africa. They appear determined to continue racing for as long as their legs can carry them.
