Comrades Marathon winner reveals plans for R1.7 million prize

North West-based Comrades Marathon winner Tete Dijana shares his plans for his R1.7 million cash prize.

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TETE DIJANA PLANS FOR R1.7 MILLION PRIZE

The father of two and two-time Comrades Marathon winner Tete Dijana tells Drum Magazine that he plans to invest his R1.7 million money for his children.

“I am investing money for my children,” says Dijana, who has two daughters aged nine and five years old.

He adds that he invested some of the money from the 2022 win and used the rest to buy a car and build his dream home.

“It is a four-bedroom house with a lounge, sitting room, kitchen and a double garage. It’s almost done. Only the roof remains. I am very excited. Once the house is done, I will be able to live with my children.”

City Press reported that he received R500 000 for his win, another R500 000 for beating the best time, R200 000 as the first South African man over the finish line and R500 000 from the North West government.

He adds that he dropped out of university because he could not afford it and wants to go back and study but he’s still busy with a contract with Nedbank.

“It is a three-year contract, and I am still in the first year of the contract. After I am done with Nedbank I would like to go back. In fact, I would one day like to be a coach and train other runners.”

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PREPARING FOR COMRADES MARATHON

Dijana also tells Drum that he knew he could win the Comrades Marathon again this year.

“Going into the race I knew I could win it again. I looked at my preparation and I figured I could to it again.”

He trained twice a day on weekdays and once on weekends, and took leave for two months and attended a training camp.

There was a strict diet and training regime at camp, where he also did hill work, speed work and distance work.

“We also did not eat starch except potatoes and pasta. We only ate vegetables and white meat. Then two days before the race, we were able to eat pap and that pap gave us power.”

The Comrades Marathon is the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon race, which takes place in KwaZulu-Natal province between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

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