Two-time Gold Medallist appointed as the new Hollywood Athletics Club Coach
Two-time Comrades Marathon Gold Medallist and winner 2016 Cape Town Ultra Trail 100km, Prodigal Khumalo, has been appointed as the new coach for the Hollywood Athletics Club.
A career that has spanned for 15 years has seen Prodigal Khumalo, PK, as he is known in the running community, create almost legendary status. The 40-year-old joined Hollywood Athletics Club in December 2020, as part of the Ultra Marathon contingent of the club. With the years of knowledge and experience gained in his legs, it was only fitting that the legend took on the role of becoming the club’s coach.
Some of his notable achievements over and above the two gold medals won at the Comrades Marathon in 2014 and 2017 are his two back to back victories in the Ultra-trail Cape Town (UTCT) 100km in 2016 and 2017 and winning the Sani Stagger Marathon in 2019.
Zimbabwean-born Prodigal is currently coaching some of the country’s top talent which includes the likes of highly rated and recently crowned Hollywood Athletics Club Runner of the Year, Nkosikhona Mhlakwana, who came second at in the 2022 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon and 6th in the 2022 Comrades Marathon. Mandela Marathon top 3 finisher Makhosi Mhlongo is another athlete who is under the wing of PK. “I plan to help both these fine athletes improve on their personal performances from last season, aim for gold in the Two Oceans and Comrades and win it if possible. We are here to compete for podiums and break records. Nothing is impossible”.
He went on to say this will be achieved through planned race preparation, with a big focus on both the physical training, correct nutrition intake and keeping all the club’s Elite runners’ injury free,” he said. Part of his vision is to take the club to new heights and grow its presence nationwide.
Prodigal is under no illusion of the high expectations that comes from club President Morgan Shandu. “It’s a dream come true for me, as it is the first time I have been appointed to a club as a coach. I am grateful for this opportunity and the trust the club president has shown in me to take the club to new heights”, said Prodigal Khumalo.
Not only will Prodigal Khumalo keep a watchful eye on the elites under his wing, he will also make his not inconsiderable knowledge available to the club’s social runners as the official club coach. He will be designing and managing programs from the couch to 5km all the way to those who are looking for a silver at the Comrades Marathon. His almost encyclopaedic knowledge of the sport will stand the club’s runners in good stead.
PK also heads up the Orcas Foundation which was established in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal in 2018 with the aim of developing future champions in the running fraternity and will aid as a feeder to the club and help breed its own elite runners. This shows the clear intent for the future of the club at grassroots level to its elites.