Bonitas Elite Team

As the title sponsor of the Comrades Marathon, it made sense that we venture into sponsoring a team to represent us at Comrades as well as other high profile marathon races.

They are an elite team of handpicked individuals who are both seen as role models in the South African Road Running community but also represent the corporate spirit of Bonitas Medical Fund.
Their performance at Comrades 2009, has reaffirmed that they are an excellent pedigree of athletes with 2:10 and 2:11 marathon times - of the 8 contracted athletes who finished the race; 5 medals were achieved, which is what we had hoped for, completing in the 1000 out of the 12 800 participants.
Our ultimate goal has always been to ensure that as a sponsor we do not pressurise them into our own goals, but rather give them freedom to and space to optimise their personal goals. In addition, Bonitas have spent the last year building focus and foundation, a strategy that has obviously paid off.

SCOREBOARD
First Name	Last Name	Year	Position	Race No	Gun Time	Gender	Gender Position	Medal	Status
Bethuel	Netshifhefhe	2009	9	28689	05:43:35	Male	9	Gold	Finished
Simon	Peu	2009	25	57297	06:00:47	Male	25	Silver	Finished
Joseph	Ikaneng	2009	39	21574	06:11:10	Male	39	Silver	Finished
Simon	Mphulanyane	2009	69	53889	06:26:57	Male	66	Silver	Finished
Farwa	Mentoor	2009	137	25609	06:45:33	Female	5	Gold	Finished
Brian	Zondi	2009	668	39035	07:39:25	Male	652	Bill Rowan	Finished

24 November 1974
Mfolo, Soweto, Gauteng,
South Africa

BRIAN ZONDI

Brian Zondi has always had a passion for sports. Growing up in rural Mnambithi Kwa-Zulu Natal he took up Karate as a sport, but could not entertain it for long as it proved to be too expensive a sport for him.

The next best thing had to be running, which today has brought him ample success and achievements, including finishing second in his first attempt at the Comrades in 2006. He unfortunately picked up an injury which did not allow him to finish the 2007 and 2008 edition of the ultimate human race.

Speaking to Brian he mentions that he feels like a winner from just taking part in this “ridiculous” mind activator (Comrades), and will be taking his experience from the last three years to better this year’s participation, aiming at position one for 2009.

06 July 1974
Klerksdorp, North West,
South Africa

JOSEPH IKANENG

The Bonitas team captain took up running in high school and has never looked back. He became a North West Track and Cross Country junior champ at the age of 18, and holds a number of 1st place positions emanating from the Glasfit 42 km in 1999, the Slow Mag twice in 2001 and 2003.

While he is looking forward to Comrades 2009, he personally does not take chances with Comrades. “The race is about preparation, preparation, and preparation”, he says. A big part of his preparation which has helped him keep a record and learn from his experiences is his journal which he uses to record all his training and has noted every race he has ever taken part in.

He believes his 3rd Comrades gold is on the cards for this year.

13 February 1973
Hammanskraal, Gauteng,
South Africa

SIMON PEU

Simon Peu has a reputation of taking Gold as a novice, a trend that he has carried through with him since his first 50 km Loskop Dam race, which earned him a record breaking first place of 2hours and 44 minutes in 2003.

A first class runner Simon has since, cruised his way to victory in the Pick and Pay Marathon in 2008 coming out 1st in the 42 kilometer race.

He surprised all punters by coming 3rd in his first Two Oceans Marathon in 2008. He’s hoping to surprise again by coming up tops in this years Comrades.

16 March 1972
Venda, Limpopo,
South Africa

BETHUEL NETSHIFHEFHE

To stand at the podium among the top 10 is Bethuel’s dream for his 1st Comrades Marathon. It is the same drive and motivation that has seen him representing South Africa at the World Half Marathon champs in Mexico and the World Marathon Championships in Osaka 2007.

Winner of the 2007 Two Oceans Marathon, Bethuel broke a three-year Zimbabwean strangehold on the men’s race. His other wins include the City to City Marathon in 2006 and 5th position in the 2008 Two Oceans marathon.

Bethuel lives in Venda with his wife.

09 September 1970
Meyerton, Gauteng,
South Africa

SIMON MPHULENYANE

Two Oceans and Soweto Marathon gold medalist Simon Mphulenyane is motivated by the feeling of belonging and wanting to be part of a big movement such as the Comrades Marathon, it is with this spirit that “Baby Face” is looking forward to this year’s Comrades.

He started running at school between the years of 1990 and 1993, and has since become a force to be reckoned with, giving great performances at races such as the London marathon by coming up tenth in 1999 with his most memorable being his first place at Two Oceans in 2002.

Simon’s running has been motivated by the vultures who used to train at the stadium where lived he is married with two children.

26 April 1973
Bredasdorp, Western Cape, South Africa

FARWA MENTOOR

For the last eight years Farwa Mentoor has been South Africa’s top female finisher in the Comrades Marathon often dominated by the Russians. A legend in her own right, Farwa has maintained her training regime from her base in Bredasdorp in the Western Cape.

Her participation in Comrades has not gone without challenges, in 2005, fifteen minutes from the Comrades finish line Farwa’s body gave in and her legs refused to go on but in true comrade spirit, she willed herself on and crawled to the finish. Her previous Comrades placings are fourth position in 2007, sixth in 2006, fourth in 2005 and third in 2004

Farwa balances the act of being a mother to her children as well as maintaining her status as a top athlete.