STEPHEN Mokoka is an unsung hero of South African athletics.
And despite his achievements in track and field events, Mokoka is still underrated.
For an athlete who had an amazing season last year, it’s sad that Mokoka lacks a long queue of sponsors competing for his brand.
In fact, the 31-year-old – who competed at the Rio Olympics in Brazil 2016, registering his personal best in the 10 000m final (27:54:57) – is struggling to attract investors.
Last year, he won the Shanghai International Marathon in China for the fourth time and clinched the African Senior Athletics Championships title in the 10 000m race in Durban.
It will take a remarkable performance for him to surpass his 2016 achievement in the new season.
But Mokoka is gunning for the Tokyo Marathon taking place in Japan on 26 February.
Having begun his training last month, Mokoka hopes to better his time at the IAAF World Championships in London at the 10 000m event in August.
“It will be a tough year. Though underrated, I want the results to speak for me,” Mokoka said.
“It affects me sometimes, as I don’t even have a sponsored watch. Having a nice watch makes a difference to one’s confidence.”
Mokoka looks up to Lusapho April, winner of the Hanover Marathon in Germany in 2013.
This great athlete dreams of one day winning a major marathon competition on the international stage.
