'Clarity, discipline and execution' - Booyens makes history as first coach to win male & female Soweto & Two Oceans titles

Thanks to Khoarahlane Seutloali's maiden Africanbank Soweto Marathon victory on Saturday 29 November and Neheng Khatala's triumph in Soweto last year, Andrew Booyens has become the first coach in history to win the men's and women's titles at both The People's Race and the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon. 

Six months after claiming glory at the World's Most beautiful Ultra Marathon, the man from The Mountain Kingdom produced a composed performance to out kick 2023 champion Ntsindiso Mphakathi of Entsika with just over a kilometre to go, crossing the finish line in 2:20:10 as Mphakathi took second (2:20:25) and defending champion Onalenna Khonkhobe hung on for third (2:20:39).

Seutloali celebrates victory at the 2025 Africanbank Soweto Marathon. Photo Credit: Joburg Sport.

"We planned for two big 5km segments. That's what we trained for," he told #TheTopRunner. "We knew it would come. Every time we did long runs we put in a big 5km effort during the long run and then still closed hard. And we trained for a sprint finish. If you've got the speed and you back your speed then you don't have to worry," said the coach of the 33-year-old Olympian who is the holder of a 2:11:04 marathon best and 1:01:56 21km personal best.

Booyens also guided Steyn to 2022 Two Oceans Marathon success. Booyens is pictured here with Steyn and Nkhabutlane who also won Two Oceans in 2015. Photo Credit: Supplied.

That Booyens has been able to guide the Hollywood Athletic Club top runner to success at Two Oceans, The People's Race in the same calendar year and Olympic Qualification back in 2021, while overseeing Gerda Steyn's 2022 Two Oceans win and Lesotho's fastest 10km and 42km female athlete of all time Neheng Khatala's third place finish at this year’s Two Oceans on debut speaks volumes about the coaching abilities of a man who began his athletic career running with Comrades Marathon gold medalist Willie Mtolo as a schoolboy during the late 1980’s. And after spending some time the great Richard Turnbull who coached one of South Africa’s greatest athletes of all time, Matthews Temane, the man from Maritzburg was inspired to become a coach himself.

Booyens with Khatala. The North West University Sports Science student is also the reigning USSA 5000m champion. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"I've been coaching on and off since 1995. I've now been coaching both Joseph and Neheng for 8 years," he says. "The biggest improvements came from clarity, discipline, and sharper race execution. Joseph and Neheng are gifted, hardworking, disciplined, and mentally tough — and that's why they can perform from 10km all the way to ultra-marathon level."

It’s an approach that has borne fruit for more than a few athletes with Lesotho's former marathon record holder Motlokoa Nkhabutlane (2:09:47) also having benefited from the experience of a mentor who has found that the best exponents of his coaching philosophy have tended to come from the tiny alpine country situated entirely within the borders of South Africa where youth unemployment can be as high as 39%. Helping athletes to overcome these challenging economic circumstances using their athletic talents is what motivates Booyens.

Booyens and Seutloali pose for a photo after his 2025 Two Oceans triumph. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"Knowing how much the athletes put in and the sacrifices they make is what drives me every day. Seeing their success keeps me motivated to work even harder as a coach. Year after year the races are becoming more competitive, and that pushes all of us, athletes and coaches, to keep improving, keep learning, and keep raising our standards."