Ndhlela, arguably one of the few successful runners to emerge in post-independent Zimbabwe, vividly recalls that day when he failed to travel to Moscow for the world’s greatest sports showpiece after he was hit by a bout of malaria.
“I had performed extremely well in all local races and was chosen to represent Zimbabwe at the Moscow Olympics in the 5 000m race,” he said. “Everything, including my air ticket was in place, but three days before departure, I was hit by malaria and had to be admitted at Kwekwe General Hospital for two weeks.”
The illness forced him to cancel a life-time chance that he had waited for so long.
“The most disappointing thing is that after I failed to travel, my form started deteriorating and I had to retire from taking part in national team events and concentrated on club level events. This is one incident that I will never forget in my life, but life has to go on,” he said.
The man they call “Waga Waga the White Horse” because of this long strides said despite this setback, he is not turning his back on athletics, even at the ripe age of 51. He is preparing for the Peace Marathon to be held on December 18.
“The good thing about athletics is that we have categories depending on your age. I was supposed to take part in the master’s category to challenge (Freddy) Kashiri in the Sunshine Marathon but I arrived in Harare late and failed to register in time. But all hope is not lost as I have started preparing for the December race,” Ndhlela said.
But who is Ndhlela and how did he rise to fame?
Born and bred in Torwood, Redcliff, Ndhlela did his primary education at Torwood Primary School before proceeding to Drake High School for his secondary education.Ndhlela said he was not born athletic.
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“I was never an athlete myself. I joined the athletics club at school because I had no option. A number of pupils jostled for football so we had no chance at all to play football hence I decided to join the athletics club as a last resort.”
His coaches at Drake, Citon Rodgers and Jimmy Murphy made sure that he liked athletics from that point in time.
Ndhlela later joined Ziscosteel Athletics Club, where he had a chance to mix and mingle with renowned athletes like Esau Magwaza who was the manager of all council beer halls then.
“That’s the time I also met William Gazimbi who dealt with sprinting athletes in 1976 together with the famous Magwaza who was a good adviser. I trained with juniors for two years and I was elevated to the senior team after being recommended by Magwaza to fill his gap in the track after he left to join road events.”
Ndhlela said Zisco Athletics Club had good athletes who dominated the Chamber of Mines races.
In 1985, Ndhlela won gold medals in Zambia and Botswana after coming first in steeple chase.
He then represented the country in the East and Central Championships, which were held in Egypt, where he came fourth in the steeple chase before running the race of his life four days after.
“The East and Central Championships and the All Africa Games were hosted in Egypt, so we had only four days to rest after the East and Central Championships before running again in the All Africa Games.”
In 1987, Ndhlela and his five running mates represented the country in the Poland Cross Country Marathon.
“I went there with Zephaniah Ncube, Farai Kamucheka, Joseph Mutsimba, Nicholas Nyengerai and Stanley Mandebele (the late). Mandebele was the first Zimbabwean home but he was on position 31 while I was the second on position 132,” Ndhlela said with a smile on his face.
Currently, Ndhlela is the assistant coach at Zisco Athletics Club and holds a number of athletics coaching and officiating certificates.
