Mofokeng, Sibeko join Green Machine as Nedbank bolster Two Oceans squad

South African long distance runner Puseletso Mofokeng has confirmed that he has joined the Nedbank Running Club. Mofokeng, who trains under the guidance of Jean Verster at the Potch track club, alongside notable athletes such as South African Marathon record holder Elroy Gelant and former SA 3000m record holder Jerry Motsau, says he is excited to join a club with such a rich history.

"Yes, it's true that I have joined Nedbank. I'm very happy to join Nedbank - a club with such a good history of delivering results," he told #TheTopRunner. "I'm not leaving the group as I'm going to be trained by the same coach," said Mofokeng who has also ran in the colours of the Boxer Athletics Club.

Mofokeng in action during the 2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon where he ran a personal best 2:13:31 for tenth place. Photo Credit: Sanlam Cape Town Marathon media.

The Green Machine's reputation for dominating ultra-distance events, particularly the Two Oceans 56km and the Comrades Marathon, is what informed the 32-year-old's decision as he revealed to #TheTopRunner that he will make his Two Oceans debut on 11 April in preparation for a permanent switch to ultra-distance running within the next two years.

"I'm going to do Two Oceans this year. Last year, I spent a lot of time training for a fast marathon, so I was a bit disappointed with the outcome of the hard work I did (2:20:34 at Moscow Marathon in September). The results were disappointing when I compare it to the times I was posting in training. I sat down with the coach to discuss the way forward. Since I'm going up in distance as from 2028, we decided to give Two Oceans a test this year."

Multiple Two Oceans gold medalist Pule Sibeko has also joined Nedbank. Photo Credit: SMacPix.

But this doesn't mean that the 42,2km days are over for the man who'll make his Nedbank debut at the Johnson Crane Marathon in Benoni on 25 January. Boasting a personal best time of 2:13:31 over the standard marathon, achieved when he took tenth position at the 2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Mofokeng stated that he stills intends to run a fast marathon in the second half of the 2026 season.

"Even though I'm going to do Two Oceans Marathon, I still have plans of running a marathon later in the year. I think by then I would be recovered enough. Those are two plans for the year. Then next year, it will be going back to Marathon distance as it going to be the final year over the distance before jumping to ultras for good. I'm excited about the future."

Sehohle on the way to an 11th place finish at the 2024 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon. He will now run in the colours of Nedbank. Photo Credit: Two Oceans Media.

Mofokeng will be joined in the green kit by a few other top runners, as Nedbank continues to bolster its Two Oceans squad for the upcoming season. Notably, Pule Sibeko, a multiple top 10 finisher in the Two Oceans Marathon, has reportedly joined the team, following his departure from Maxed Elite. This move was confirmed by the Mr Price Sport backed club’s Elite Manager Martin Ngwenya, who stated that Sibeko had requested a clearance letter, which was granted about a month ago. Furthermore, Flavio Sehohle, who finished 11th (3:15:21) during the 2024 edition of the World's Most Beautiful Ultra Marathon, has also joined the club, which is led by former Comrades Marathon winner Nick Bester.