By: Puleng Maphisa- 22 March 2023

The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) student and athlete, Siyabonga Mbatha has been selected as one of the representatives of the Athletic Vaal Triangle (AVT) to participate at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) National Junior Championships which will be held in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal from 23-25 March 2023.

The 19-year-old lad who grew up in Katlehong is currently studying towards his Diploma in Sports Management at VUT.

His journey in athletics started at a very early age in primary when he was part of the Katlehong Athletics Club and the passion grew more when he called to run and study at the Vorentoe Hoerskool, as part of the athletics scholarship for his junior years.

Siyabonga is a dedicated and hardworking athlete and already has silverware in his cabinet to show for it. He is the National Bronze medallist for the 2015 ASA Cross-country and the 2019 ASA Track and Field. In between those years he wore national colours for the Central Gauteng Athletics.

Among his lengthy string of achievements, in 2022 he represented VUT at the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Track and Field in Cape Town and USSA Cross-Country in Mafikeng were few weeks after the tournament, he suffered an injury that lasted for three months. He says with the help and support from his parents (Mrs Mpho and Mr Bongani Mbatha) and Coach, Mr Morena Tsotetsi (known as Stix), he managed to get back in shape, adding that he had to work hard throughout the December holidays to be able to qualify for the National Championships.

“Gracefully, I managed to have a great season from January 2023 running my Personal Best times in the 1500m race. I ran and shaved down my PB (personal best) four times this season in four different competitions, which made me qualify for the National Championships and I look forward to these championships. I can’t wait to face the best in the country, and I am ready to do my best and deliver according to the work that we have put in.”

Since joining athletics, Siyabonga said that the only challenge he ever faced was during his matric time when he thought he can take a break to focus on his studies but his love for athletics made it very hard as he struggled a bit with academics, he said that athletics is the only thing that keeps his mind relaxed and active and without it is hard for him to focus.

The VUT Community would like to congratulate Siyabonga for flying the MaVUTi flag high and for giving his best despite the challenges he faced. We salute him, and wish him and his coach, the best as they jet off to Pietermaritzburg.