UWillie Mtolo – Kusukela ekuhlukanisweni kwezemidlalo kuya ekubeni ingwazi ethola i-Green Jacket ehloniphekile
Intatheli Norma Duma
Igama lika William Bhekizizwe Mtolo alidingi chaza eliningi emhlabeni we-athletics eNingizimu Afrika. Ungomunye wabasubathi abakhulu kakhulu esake saba nabo, indoda eyayijima ngenhliziyo enkulu ngenkathi izwe lisavaliwe emhlabeni.
UWillie Mtolo wazalwa ngo May 5, 1964. Waziwa njengomncintisani we-marathon owayedume kakhulu, owake wawina i-New York Marathon futhi waba ngowesibili kabili ku-Comrades Marathon.
Impilo yakhe yobungcweti yaqala ngesikhathi esinzima. Njengabanye abasubathi abamnyama ngaleso sikhathi, wavinjwa ukuncintisana emhlabeni wonke kwaze kwaba ngu-1992 ngenxa ye-boycott yezemidlalo eyayibhekiswe kwi-apartheid. Lokhu kusho ukuthi iminyaka yakhe engcono kakhulu wayeyichitha egijima eNingizimu Afrika kuphela, umhlaba ungamboni.
Noma kunjalo, wakhanya lapha ekhaya:
- Wawina i-Johannesburg-Pretoria 50K ne Durban Athletic Club Marathon ngo-1984
- Waba ngumpetha wezwe ku-marathon eKapa ngo-1988 ngesikhathi esingu 2:10:18, okwaba irekhodi laseNingizimu Afrika ngaleso sikhathi
- Wawina ama-marathon amaningi njenge J.S.E Marathon (1985), S.A. Marathon (1988), Ford Marathon (1988), Two Oceans (1990) ne Peninsula Marathon (1990)
Kwathi uma i-apartheid iphela, umnyango wavuleka. Ngonyaka wakhe wokuqala phesheya, wawina womabili ama-marathon amakhulu – i-New York City Marathon kanye ne-Enschede Marathon. Kamuva wawina ne Macau Marathon ngo-2000.
Namuhla uMtolo akagijimi nje kuphela, kodwa ubuyisela emphakathini. Uhlela ama-charity runs okuthula emalokishini futhi wavula isikole sakhe sokugijima esibizwa nge Willie Athletic Club.
Ukuhlonishwa Okukhulu – I-Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket
Ebusuku obukhulu bama-19th South African Sport Awards obabuse Sun City mhlaka 24 August 2026 , ekugcineni umlando walungiswa.
I-Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket ehloniphekile yanikezwa uWilliam Mtolo, uNelson “Teenage” Dladla, uMlungisi Raphael “Professor” Ngubane kanye noPatson “Kamuzu” Banda.
Lomklomelo awusiwo nje indondo. I-Green Jacket iqanjwe ngo Andrew Mlangeni, iqhawe lomzabalazo elalithanda ezemidlalo, futhi inikezwa izinganekwane zezemidlalo ezimisebenzi yazo yathinteka kabi ngenxa yemithetho yobandlululo. Yindlela yokuthi izwe lithi: “Siyabona ukuthi aniphucwa amathuba, kodwa naphumelela noma kunjalo.”
Njengoba ushilo, ngamunye walaba bane uthole u-R100 000 ngalobo busuku, njengophawu lokubonga nokuhlonipha umnikelo wabo kwezemidlalo zaseNingizimu Afrika.
UWillie Mtolo, kanye no Teenage Dladla ebholeni, u-Professor Ngubane ekuqeqesheni, no Patson Banda esibhakeleni, bamele isizukulwane esalwela hhayi inkomishi kuphela, kodwa nesithunzi sikazwe.
Isiphetho: Indaba kaMtolo isifundo sokuthi ithalente alikwazi ukucindezelwa unomphela. Kusukela ekulaleni e-Room 11A eHillcrest Hotel ngoba abamnyama babengavunyelwe ukulala emahhotela abamhlophe, kuya ekunqobeni eNew York – manje sekuyindoda egqoke i-Green Jacket eluhlaza. Uyisibonelo sangempela sokuqina kwabantu baseKZN.
