NTONTOZI – Young athletes stole the spotlight during the Ntondozi Inkhundla army recruitment exercise, where 19-year-old Mayibongwe Vilakati and 21-year-old Gcinile Dlamini impressed in the 3.2km run.
Vilakati, from kaNdinda Umphakatsi, took first place in the men’s race. The teenager is already known on the track as the national under-20 record holder in the 800m and 1500m. He represents TZD Sports and previously trained at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria through the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association.
In the women’s race, Dlamini made history as the first woman to finish the Ntondozi recruitment run. The 21-year-old said she began preparing in June and had been training consistently to ensure she could compete. Since completing high school in 2021, she has been unemployed but maintained her focus on athletics.
The men’s contest also saw a strong performance from 33-year-old former Premier League footballer Njabuliso Tsela, who finished second. Tsela, who hails from Ntondozi, currently plays for Swazi Can United and works seasonally at Rhodes Foods Group in Malkerns. He said his pre-season training helped his endurance, noting this was his second attempt after a shoulder injury forced him out in his previous try.
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