Former long jump world champion Luvo Manyonga ‘clean, ready’
This week the Manyonga said that he is ready to rebuild his ailing career.
The disgraced former long jump world champion Luvo Manyonga can still bounce back because of his outstanding talent.
In fact, he would probably be more committed than before because he will be under pressure to deliver and create new personal records in his sporting code.
This was according to KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) deputy president Mandla Mngomezulu, when asked about Manyonga’s chances of a successful comeback.
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Mngomezulu is also a media officer for the KZN athletics governing body.
He says Manyonga is unlikely to battle and will reach his peak again because of his talent, but he will be expected to work harder to shrug off the rustiness and regain fitness to the necessary level in order to compete.
“I don’t doubt his talent at all. He can still get his career back on track … I mean the talent is permanent and class. He can also still compete at the highest level, provided he regains his form and his fitness level,” said Mngomezulu.
This week the Manyonga told SABC that he is ready to rebuild his ailing career.
The former champ pleaded for the world, especially South Africans, to give him a second change to “fix old mistakes”.
According to Manyonga, he is ready to rebuild his life when his four-year ban for a drug violation ends in December.
During his first briefing, he expressed his determination to revive his struggling career and return to the sandpit.
As the brand ambassador of Clinix health centre, Manyonga has battled drug addiction for over a decade.
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He was suspended in 2012 for 18 months and in 2019 for four years. Having turned to a life of crime to support his addiction, he is now on the road to recovery and self-discovery.
I think I still owe the world a last bar there because my career didn’t end at the moment. It was just a hiccup that I was not disciplined and did not follow what the world wanted. I just did what I wanted to do
“This time I was out, I had an opportunity to acknowledge that I was big and the world wanted me to perform. I need to put the last bar and next year it is the world champs, so I want to go, and after that I want to start coaching,” he said.
Manyonga told SABC that he receives excellent support and that his life has taken a significant positive turn. The abundance of encouragement from well-wishers has been inspiring for him, he said.
“I am at the right place, with the right people and with the support I am getting, my life has drastically changed. My life was not as clean as I am today, you can see my face, my body and my health are different,” added Manyonga.
Returning to the sandpit requires considerable effort, including finding a new training facility, teammates, and a structured program.
Nevertheless, Manyonga remains unfazed by this programme, asserting that he only needs to rely on his God-given talent to successfully complete his comeback.
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The long jumper asserts that he hasn’t been following the sport since his ban, but added that not much has changed in the world of the long jump.
He vowed to reclaim his title as the best jumper on the planet.
