AFTER crossing the Nedbank Soweto Marathon finish line yesterday, Tsheliso Bosiu confessed that winning the event had also surprised him.

AFTER crossing the Nedbank Soweto Marathon finish line yesterday, Tsheliso Bosiu confessed that winning the event had also surprised him.

"I still can't believe that I have won the biggest marathon in Africa. As you can see I'm still shaking because of the excitement," said the Gauteng Striders runner.

Bosiu, who has ended Lesotho's domination of this marathon for the past five years, clocked 2hrs:18min:10secs.

Bosiu was disappointed that President Jacob Zuma was not at the finish line to congratulate him.

"His presence last year inspired me to go back and train harder so that I can also shake his hand," he said.

Zuma was at an ANC rally in Jabulani last year on the day of the marathon and surprised the athletics family by coming to the finish line to congratulate the winners.

"I'm going home to continue training harder so that I can successfully defend the title next year. I enjoyed the marathon. I realised that the rest of the guys did not want to take the lead and I decided to increase the pace after the halfway mark," said Bosiu.

"When I looked back, there was no follow-up and I knew it was in the bag. This is the greatest day of my life, I will always cherish it."

Mabutile Lebopo of Lesotho, winner in 2007, finished second in 2:19:19, with compatriot Tsotang Maine third in 2:20:26.