…pockets E530 000 worth of sponsorship
BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE– After a three-year hiatus Imbube Marathon is making a major comeback.
The Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) will once again host the Imbube Marathon, which will also mark the fifth edition of the race.
It had been put on hold back in 2020 following the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It has returned with sponsorships worth E530 000 after various companies sponsored the event. It was previously sponsored to a tune of E500 000.
The event is expected to attract close to 5 000 athletes and road runners from clubs and individuals. It will be staged on October 1, 2023.
The last time it was staged, in 2019, it saw about 5 000 athletes participating.
The race was re-launched yesterday at the Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini.
ENPF acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Futhi Tembe, who was standing in for Prince Lonkhokhela said they were happy to have the much-anticipated marathon back after three years.
“We are excited to have the marathon back after the long pause, which was caused by COVID-19. This year, we are coming back and it marks the fifth edition of this prestigious event,” said Tembe.
Imbube Marathon is the biggest marathon event which attracts runners from across the globe and is financially backed by ENPF.
The pioneer of the race is His Majesty King Mswati III and proceeds derived from the marathon are donated to different needy schools across the country.
She went on to say that as a company they were committed to making this year’s marathon better than before. “We want to provide a world-class experience for all participants. We invite the nation to come to grace the event to promote health, fitness and community spirit. We also plead with other companies and individuals to come through and help make the event more memorable,” she added.
