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Johannesburg - Better planning could make the Soweto Marathon one of the most prestigious road races in the world, Athletics South Africa (ASA) administrator Ray Mali said on Tuesday.
"This event could match the New York and London marathons," Mali said in Braamfontein at the launch of the race, which takes place on Sunday.
"We can only do that, however, if the organising committee starts preparations for next year’s event on Monday.
"That’s the only way we can reach the highest level and I believe we have the capacity to do it."
The 20th edition of the annual race this year was almost cancelled because of a lack of funding after Nedbank cut ties with the embattled ASA.
"We were saved by Lotto which gave us R1m, and Europcar which gave R700,000, half of which was sponsorship in kind and half of which was a cash component," said Mali.
Last year, the race was won by South African Tshidiso Bosiu, who clocked 2:18.10 to win by more than a minute. He returns to defend his title this year.
South African record holder Gert Thys, who set a national best of 2:06.33 when he won the Tokyo Marathon in 1999, will line up in Soweto for the first time this year.
The 38-year-old was second at the Beijing Marathon on Sunday in 2:15.56 and, just one week later, is unlikely to have recovered sufficiently, to step onto the podium.
Another South African, Rene Kalmer, who won on debut last year in 2:44.06, has also confirmed her participation.
However, Kalmer has recently struggled with illness and is expected to line up in the 10km race which starts shortly after the marathon event.
