There have a sceond chance at glory in the Africa .PHOTO : GIFT NDOLWANE
PRETORIA– The City of Tshwane is basking in glory after its sporting heroes recently produced the Comrades marathon winner in Centurion long distance runner Charne Bosman, the Absa Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns, and Nedbank Cup winners Supersport United.
It was a rare distinction by Pretoria on the South African soil by the teams and individuals as the capital underlines its supremacy against their erstwhile Gauteng rival city Johanesburg.
Sundowns capped the memorable year for Tshwane on Monday night when the top flight side swept almost all the accolades at the Absa Premier Soccer League awards held at the Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg.
The Brazilians’ ace attacker Khama Billiat, was the major highlight of the night when he snatched the Midfielder of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and the Footballer of the season gongs, while outstanding defender Thabo Ntethe bagged the Defender of the Season and Telkom Knockout Player of the tournament.
To cap an icing on the cake, their smooth operator coach Pitso Mosimane deservedly took away the Coach of the year trophy with his shot stopper Dennis Onyango getting the Goalkeeper of the Year recognition. City rivals Supersport United provided the Nedbank Cup Player of the tournament in Jeremy Brockie.
Away from football, Bosman stamped her authority on the track when she beat her friend and training partner Caroline Wostmann in the Comrades marathon ran between Pietermaritzburg and Durban last weekend.
This summarises the outcome of Sunday’s Comrades Marathon for Pretoria’s two road racing stars. Last year, it was Wöstmann who stunned the world with her performance when she easily won the Comrades from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
Bosman had to settle with a second place last year. On a day of drama for these two sport stars from Pretoria, it was the other way around this year.
This time it was Wöstmann who had to deal with setbacks, while Bosman’s race worked out perfectly and she won the woman’s race in the 2016 Comrades marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban in a time of 6:25,49.
Despite her problems , Wöstmann showed courage and endurance to hang on in the last five kilometres to finally finish second in a time of 6:30.46.Bosman’s victory puts a cherry on top of the career of a remarkable athlete.
In 2013, she finished fifth, but almost burned herself out before the end. In 2014, she collapsed during the race because of a dysfunctional thyroid. She was unconscious for a few minutes and had to ‘finish’ her race in an ambulance.
The former SA marathon champion had many other obstacles to overcome in her career. She fought more than once against disease and injury and this victory is the testimony of the former pupil of Hoërskool Eldoraigne’s character. She came back stronger after each setback.
Bosman says: “It is amazing to win at long last. It is a dream come true. I am very happy but all credit to God who gave me the talent to run.
“I started hearing from spectators that Caroline was cramping but because I was still 10 minutes behind I realised that I should not get over excited. It was important to just stick to my race strategy.”
–Guardian Sport
