Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 108, July 2018 | Page 21

ROAD RUNNING
as initially feared, so he was up and about a few days
after the attack, but he was left with sever headaches,
especially when he tried running, and believed his
opportunity to represent his country in Algeria was
gone. “I was overcome with despondency, and I had
given up on the Algeria trip,” he says.
Then out of the blue he was contacted by Benita
Niemann of Magnesium Café and everything changed.
“She tracked me down before African Champs and
told me to try the product, that I will see the results.”
Having heard of the attack and Thabang’s struggle
to recover, Benita had decided to offer what help
she could. “It was really sad for me, because when I
first made contact with Thabang, he had two hands
full of tablets, and not one was magnesium. As soon
as he started to drink the magnesium, he started to
recover. People don’t understand the importance of
magnesium,” she says.
Thabang continues the story: “Everyone thought I
would only be running again next year, or at least after
six months of recovery, but I went to African Champs.
Thabang is running well again
What really helped me recover was the magnesium
products, and I can’t thank Benita and Magnesium
Café enough. It took away the headaches, and
gave me the energy and focus I needed in training.
Physically I am OK now. The terrible headaches I was
getting are not so bad now, only coming now an d
again, and I plan to keep using the product, because
it saved my career!”
Unsurprisingly, his training mates noticed his rapid
recovery and quick return to form, and began asking
him about the wonder supplements he was taking.
That saw coach Springs Phakathi ask Benita if she
would consider sponsoring more of his training group,
so now Rantso, Thandi and Puseletso Mofokeng are
all using her products, and Rantso is equally effusive
about the effects of magnesium. “It seemed to really
help Thabang. Initially he used to stop regularly in
jogs due to the headaches, but gradually improved
once he started using magnesium. Previously I never
believed in supplements, but now I’m also using
magnesium, because it’s the best thing I have found
for recovery and energy.”
ENDURING FRIENDSHIP
No suspects have been arrested following the
attack, in spite of Rantso following up with the police
and university authorities, and he says the latest
information they have points to the fact that it may
have been men from Pretoria, with ties to Potch
students, that attacked them. “Ironically, Thabang
always avoided coming out in the dorp at night due
to previous attacks or incidents like this, usually with
drunk guys. To be honest, I don’t go out at night any
more, because I don’t feel safe.”
He says he wished the attack had not led to his
friend suffering so much, but he nevertheless does
not regret getting involved in the café. “The first thing
I thought was, what if that had been my mother,
just doing her job… so I had to speak up, because
we must protect people that can’t stand up for
themselves. I had no intention to fight, but I am still
responsible for what happened. I used to think maybe
we were at the wrong place at the wrong time, but
seeing my friend almost get killed made me stop and
say this must not happen again, and that is what I am
fighting for.”
Meanwhile, Thabang says the physical injuries
of the attack may now be largely healed, but the
psychological and emotional scars are still healing.
“When people talk about the attack, it really hurts me,
because even today nobody has been arrested. It
hurts because I haven’t got justice yet. Still, I am really
proud of Rantso for standing up for that cashier, even
though we got attacked. He is a true friend.”
Rantso in action in
the steeple chase
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