On 19 July, the city of Beira hosted the 7th edition of the Légua da Beira, an initiative promoted by Cornelder de Moçambique (CdM), in partnership with the Sofala Provincial Athletics Association (APAS). Once again, the capital of Sofala witnessed a great sporting gathering, bringing together thousands of athletes and enthusiasts in an atmosphere of liveliness, movement and community spirit.
With a 7.2-kilometre course and its epicentre at Largo dos CFM, the race attracted around 3,750 participants, from different parts of the country and abroad. Registered athletes, amateurs, CdM employees, students, veterans and representatives of the port community laced up their trainers and lined up for a day of effort, fellowship and health promotion.
In the Men's Registered Athletes category, South African Abednico Mashaba won again, crossing the finish line in 21 minutes and 18 seconds — a time that becomes the best ever recorded in the history of the race. Behind him came Ebel Chibanda (21.23) and Thabo Prince Ndlovu (22.09), also foreigners. In the women's event, victory went to Neriah Maganzo, with 26.16 minutes, followed by the Mozambicans Rosa Passipamira (28.27) and Domingas Checane (28.47), in a closely fought contest.
But the Légua is made up of many stages and protagonists. Among CdM Employees, João Simbe and Epifania Sequeira stood out, while Brizito Casse and Olímpia Lamucene won among the Port Community representatives. In the Veterans, Betinho Itato and Ester Chiweia crossed the line first in their categories, and among the Popular runners, Manda Jaquecene and Isabel Basílio achieved the best times. Among the students, Jonas Vernijo and Lonia Sitoe led their races. Each name represents effort, discipline and the pleasure of taking part in an event that values individual and collective achievement.
At Largo dos CFM, the start and finish point of the race, a Health Fair open to the whole population was also held. Screening services, counselling and awareness-raising activities were available to those present, reinforcing the social character of the event and its link to the well-being of the community.
Jan de Vries, Managing Director of Cornelder de Moçambique, highlighted the growth and impact of the Légua in the city. “It is gratifying to see the city involved with this initiative, which not only promotes health but also strengthens ties between people and institutions. This year we had even more participants, and we felt the support of those who joined us along the course. People running, walking, each in their own way, but all gaining in health. That is what matters most,” he said. He also encouraged athletes to prepare earlier, reminding them that CdM makes training spaces available months before the event.
António Libombo, Deputy Executive Director of CdM, also took part in the race and underlined the positive outcome of the edition. “We managed to exceed expectations. The new digital platform we developed for registering participants made sign-up simpler and more organised. The turnout shows that we are on the right track,” he stressed. He appealed for more people to join the next edition, noting that the Légua is establishing itself as a benchmark in regional athletics.
The Governor of Sofala, Lourenço Bulha, who was present, acknowledged Cornelder's contribution to sport and public service. “This race adds value to the province and associates physical exercise with other important services, such as healthcare. These are initiatives that should be replicated by other organisations.”
Sande Carmona, representative of Beira Municipal Council, reinforced the value of the Légua as a benchmark event beyond our borders. “The Légua da Beira is already known in various parts of the continent. It is an asset of the city that we should all cherish.”
The Secretary-General of APAS, Titos Mulinga, also highlighted the organisation's progress and the positive response from Mozambican athletes. “We had more participants and managed to maintain quality. This edition sets new challenges for the future and confirms that we are growing on several fronts.”
The cool weather helped the runners, according to several participants, who described the race as demanding but well contested. The faces at the finish reflected tiredness and satisfaction, at an event that combines sport, health and citizenship. The Légua da Beira has already earned its place on the national sporting scene — and continues to add kilometres of motivation and example.
