KABOKWENI – A young local athlete, Alwande Mamba, from Clau-Clau is making her school, community, and province proud through her passion for athletics.
For the past three years, the star has competed in the 1200-metre race, consistently reaching the district level.
Throughout this time, she demonstrated strong endurance, determination, and steady improvement. This year marked a significant breakthrough in her running journey, competing in the 800-metre race at Laerskool Kragbron, in Girls Under-13.
The star delivered an impressive performance and earned a bronze medal. Her achievement also secured her qualification for the National Championships, taking place in Cape Town, Western Cape, from 19–21 March 2026.
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By qualifying for the national event, she will not only be representing her school and local community, but also Mpumalanga province. Speaking to Mpumalanga Mirror, her coach and teacher, Christabel Bhiya, expressed pride in her progress and achievements. “The school has been supportive towards Alwande’s journey as an athlete. She started running when she was 10 years old and has been training all these years with the help of her teachers.”
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Bhiya also shared personal reflections on watching her growth, saying, “Even with the shortage of training facilities, I’ve witnessed her journey as an athlete through all the challenges she faced. “Despite those challenges, she still managed to achieve good results. This year she conquered many obstacles and I am proud of her performance. I believe she will definitely get a podium finish at the nationals. She has raised our school, circuit, and district flag high,” she recounted.
Looking ahead, Mamba’s running journey will continue after the national championships. She is expected to participate in cross-country competitions later this year. “After the nationals, she will participate in cross-country. I will be happy to see marathon clubs take her so that she doesn’t stop running. Since she will be going to high school next year, I wish that she continues to run,” said the coach. The school is seeking donations to support her trip to the National Championships in Cape Town. Contact Mhwayi Primary at 071 366 4257 for donations.
