Despite the head honchos of the Hollywood Athletics Club being modest about the expectations they have for their latest big-money signings, Tete Dijana and Edward Mothibi will be under pressure to deliver the elusive men’s Comrades Marathon title this year.
Dijana and Mothibi were announced as the newest additions to the Hollywood Club elite runners’ athletics stable from the Nedbank Running Club, and all eyes will be on the duo to deliver that elusive Comrades Marathon title in the men’s race.
Hollywood Athletics Club chairman Greg Glossop and president Morgan Shandu both insisted that the former Comrades Marathon champions will not be under any form of pressure to win everything that is up for the taking this year.
Even so, the pressure will inevitably be there for Dijana and Mothibi, as they will be hoping to emulate Gerda Steyn, who went on to become the first woman to win the Ultimate Human Race for Hollywoodbets just months after signing with them.
“I always say that I am never under pressure. As an athlete and individual, I would love to win the Comrades once again, this time at Hollywoodbets,” Dijana said.
“But, as the president [Shandu] said, he will not put us under pressure, and I also don’t like pressure. So, I will not say I will win it, but I will definitely run.”
Mothibi, who last won the Comrades in 2019, will also want to return to winning ways and deliver at his new club — a feat that he believes can be achieved if he is happy and in a healthy environment.
“It is my duty to perform at my highest, but do you think I will perform better if I’m unhappy? I need to be happy in order to perform well, and I will have to make sure I deliver that to get gold again, but there is no pressure on Tete and me to win the title,” Mothibi said.
Mothibi and Dijana will make their first competitive outing in their new purple gear on March 1 at the Best of the Best Marathon at the Kings Park Athletics Stadium in Durban.
