Comrades king hailed

Life has not always been easy for the king of the Comrades Marathon, Stephen Muzhingi. Since his days as a promising young athlete at Shingirirai Primary School in Sanyati in the rural Midlands, where he walked long distances to school, to surviving the infamous 2005 Operation Murambatsvina, he has seen it all on his rise to stardom. It is this daily routine which made him the iron man he is today.

At just six years old, Muzhingi was already good enough to represent his school in long- distance races.

"My mother was instrumental in my development as a long- distance runner because at that age she would send me to do chores far away from home," said Muzhingi from his base in Durban North in South Africa.

This is why Muzhingi is still distraught that his mother lost her house during Operation Murambatsvina in 2005.

Muzhingi is the reigning champion of the world famous Comrades Marathon. He won the race for the first time in 2009.

Despite his instant stardom, he remains down to earth.

However, he is disturbed that recognition back home in Zimbabwe has not been forthcoming.

"I want to urge Zimbabwean athletic bodies to start celebrating and supporting their heroes," said Muzhingi.

Early this year Muzhingi expressed his interest in becoming a South African citizen.

Muzhingi says he draws his inspiration from his family.

"They respect my career. They know their food comes from running," said Muzhingi who lists former Comrades winner Russian Vladimir Kotov and Esau Magwaza among his role models.

He does not regret leaving Zimbabwe.

"I never enjoyed life, I was just surviving. I never had an opportunity to use my educational qualifications to get a job. The only way out was running," said Muzhingi with a chuckle.

His coach, Cliff Chinnasamy, describes him as a man with a "big heart".

He told us that Muzhingi first came to Durban by mistake.

"I invited Samson Dingani in 2004 and he couldn't (make it). He sent Muzhingi on his ticket and that's how I came to know him," said Chinnasamy.

Chinnasamy, whose Formula One Athletics Club has taken in a number of Zimbabwe athletes, believes Muzhingi is going to be a Comrades Marathon king until he retires.

"He will do it 10 consecutive times," he declared.

He said Zimbabwe is full of raw talent but should invest in that talent to produce champions who can take it back to the heydays when the country was a force to be reckoned with in the world of athletics.

"Zimbabwe has so many athletics bodies but what are they doing for athletes?" he asked.

"These bodies must not wait for champions, they must produce them.

"They must wake up and smell the coffee," he said.