A giant on the road running scene, a beloved father, brother and son of the soil, Mlungisi Radebe Madlingozi, completed his final lap on the journey of life at the weekend.
An accomplished coach, respected teacher, runner and rugby man to the bone, Madlingozi, 75, died in the company of family, at his sister’s home in Hazeldean, in Browns Farm, Philippi, on Saturday February 15, after a short illness.
The eldest of three siblings, born and raised in District Six, Madlingozi displayed an affinity for rugby at an early age, following in the footsteps of his father, Buchanan “Bucks” Madlingozi, who was also famous in rugby circles in Gugulethu, said his sister Guffy Vuyiswa Madlingozi.
“Radebe started boarding at Healdtown High School, near Fort Beaufort, in 1970, that’s when he explored the rugby fields and he became captain of his team,” she said, adding that after completing his schooling, her brother continued his studies at Lovedale Teacher’s College in the Eastern Cape.
His burgeoning rugby career blossomed in 1978 and 1979, when he was the Western Province Rugby Board captain, before taking up a teaching and athletics coaching position at ID Mkhize Senior Secondary School, in Gugulethu.
The long-since disbanded, WPRB was affiliated to the then SA Rugby Board, which governed black African rugby union players during the Apartheid era. The representative team of the African Rugby Union was known as the Leopards.
While rugby may have been his first love, Madlingozi later established himself as a distinguished runner and coach with 14 Two Oceans Ultra Marathons, 13 Cape Town Marathons and more than 10 Peninsula Marathons under his belt.
In 1979, Madlingozi guided his school to a clean sweep in all divisions at an athletics tournament in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, to bring home the overall winner’s trophy to Cape Town.
“He always advised me to finish the race, said I must run my own race and always prepare before entering a race,” said Khonza Reuben Mxinwa, a relative and former student of Madlingozi’s at lID Mkhize.
“He coached me well, physically and mentally, for big races like the Comrades Marathon. He said that when I get to the 60km mark, I should use my head because my legs will be finished. More importantly, he taught me about life,” Mxinwa said.
“If there’s anything the youth can learn from him, it’s to always try to add value to the community, especially sports-related.”
A long-standing member of Claremont-based Celtic Harriers, club members fondly remember Madlingozi’s tall figure, all dressed in Celtics’ familiar green and white strip, standing head and shoulders among throngs of runners at road races.
“I remember him as a very nice gentleman who always came to say hello to me when I was commentating at the road races, ” said club president, Harold Berman, whose voice was once a familiar feature at road races but he has since hung up his microphone.
Club secretary Glenn Muller agrees, calling him respectable with impeccable manners. “Ntate Radebe was a loyal member of Celtics, well liked and was always passing on his wisdom and knowledge of running to the other members. He will be missed by many,” said Muller.
“A keen and competitive athlete in his hey-day, and even in his 70s, he was as competitive as ever, making podiums on occasions. He would phone me or visit the clubhouse quite often to enquire how everyone was doing, always taking a keen interest in the goodwill of Celtics,” he said.
“A recipient of local awards from the Easter and Western Cape local governments, Ntate Radebe was passionate about junior athletes and took a particular interest in their development at grassroots level,” said Muller.
“The last we spoke was when he sent me a WhatsApp message on February 1 to tell me that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
“Although sad, it’s the happy memories that spring to mind when talking about his friend and Celtic stalwart,” Muller said.
“We ran the Gugs 10km race a couple of years ago, and I caught up with Ntate Radebe with about 3km to go,” he said.
“I was about to pass him, when he said he needed my help to track the third-placed runner in the 70-age group in which he was competing. The other runner was about 50m ahead and Ntate Radebe, being still competitive as ever, wanted to beat him in order to podium,” he said.
“I ran slightly ahead of him, picking up speed in order to track down the third-placed runner. Edging closer and closer, we entered the stadium mere metres behind the third-placed runner, who panicked and started to pick up speed. Ntate Radebe tried to chase him down but a little too late. Ever smiling and chuckling, he remarked ‘this old man still got it.’
• Details of memorial and related services for Mlungisi Radebe Madlingozi will be announced once funeral arrangements are finalised.
