Former 4km cross-country champ wants to make a name for himself on the big stage

By his own admission, Sibusiso Msibi is relatively unknown at senior levels, but he wants to use the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km race at Nasrec on Sunday to officially announce himself.

The 22-year-old, the 2025 ASA 4km cross-country champion who runs for the University of Johannesburg, will be up against veterans Stephen Mokoka and Thabang Mosiako.

Speaking during the pre-race media conference in Hyde Park on Friday afternoon, Msibi said this was a good opportunity to announce himself to the wider public. “I feel if I do good on Sunday, it will open opportunities for me.

“This is special for me. I am going all out and I am expecting a podium finish.”

Msibi said he was relishing the opportunity of competing against his idols Mokoka and Mosiako. “I am honoured and happy to be here. It’s my first time at this race and hopefully there will be more days like this. I am grateful to be sitting with them [Mokoka and Mosiako] here.

“I remember watching them on TV and wishing to be like them. I remember running with Stephen in a 10km race at a Region 5 event last year. He actually spoke to me during the race, but at the time I was ‘suffering’. That told me to go back and work harder at training, and that’s what I have been doing up to now.

“They are an inspiration and hopefully one day I will be one of the great athletes.”

Msibi said he had been working hard and was ready for a breakthrough. “To be honest, I have not been under pressure. I focussed on track and cross-country at junior level and I was good at it. So now that I am starting at a higher level, I am adding a few 10km runs on the road.

“My focus is on cross-country and USSA (University Sports SA) next year. My specialty is track, where I run 5,000m and 1,500m. But next year I am going to start doing the big races such as Absa and Hollywoodbets.

Msibi is balancing running and school, and says it is not easy. “At high school, they were teaching us how to balance school and athletics. So far I am coping.”