Amos Ziqubu - Co-founder of the LCA. He is also the organisation's General and Community Liaison Manager

Little did Amos Ziqubu realise that nearly 30 years after he first rode a bicycle as an 11-year-old boy living in the township of Gugulethu near Cape Town, that he would one day co-found the Life Cycling Academy (LCA) - an organization that has achieved great success since its formation in 2003.

In 1998 Amos was employed by the South African Post Office (SAPO) and had the chance to ride a bicycle all day long. "I was interested in cycling but had no bicycle, so, while doing my rounds on my Post Office bicycle, I used that as my opportunity to train," he says.

He entered two races that year, the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour and Die Burger/Sanlam 100. His last race was the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour in 1999 - since then his time has been focused on training and looking after young cyclists. "I believe you can be a champion at an early age," he says.

Amos decided to take his love of cycling back to his township home in Khayelitsha and started cycling with and training the youngsters who followed him around on his bicycle.

"Right from the start I had a dream to grow the sport in the township. I want to be remembered as someone who helped to develop cycling in disadvantaged communities and who transformed the sport of cycling as a whole."

In 2003 his dream of leaving a cycling legacy began to take shape when he joined forces with former gym owner, Glyn Broomberg.

"I needed someone to help me and my prayers were answered when I met Glyn. When people ask how Glyn and I met, I tell them "God simply dropped him here, right in the middle of Khayeltisha," he quips.

Together with Glyn they established the Life Cycling Academy with the goal of transforming recreational and competitive cycling by making it more accessible to the poor.

"I love my job," says Amos, who resigned from SAPO to take up a full-time role with the LCA. "The best part of my job is meeting with the cyclists' parents and giving them feedback about their child's progress."

An experienced father of five, Amos has learnt a lot about mentoring and caring for children. "I am currently training 50 cyclists at our club in Khayelitsha and we have more kids coming to join the club every day. It is difficult, because we don't have enough bicycles for all of them. So we create sub-programmes, like a running programme, so that we don't lose them."

For many years Amos' home doubled up as the LCA clubhouse and he recalls with pride the visit of Bjarne Riis and members of Team CSC, to his Khayelitsha home in December 2006.

Amos is fondly referred to by his community as 'Doctor Ziqubu', because, as he explains, "Parents tell me when they're having problems with their children, I fix them with cycling."

He has personally witnessed how cycling has taught his young charges discipline, responsibility, teamwork and most importantly, to love and respect each other.

The clubhouse is also more than an office - it doubles as a campsite for the riders when there is a race the next day and is one of the few places in Khayelitsha where young cyclists can watch their favourite cycle races - such as the Tour de France - on pay TV.

Six youngsters are also currently living at the clubhouse because their parents or guardians are unable to care for them and have entrusted their children to Amos and his wife Lucy's care.

Amos cites many examples of talented young cyclists who've faced extreme hunger and neglect because of poverty or their parents' or guardians' dependency on alcohol and drugs.

Local Khayelitsha residents are taking a lot of interest in what is happening at the LCA and Amos is grateful for the support from the local community.

"I thank the community structures, the councillor that I have - they are very supportive because they can see that we are trying to reduce the crime by working with the kids. My biggest wish is to have this kind of development in all previously-disadvantaged areas in South Africa, even in the rural areas."

Amos is justifiably proud of what the LCA has achieved to date, notably the success of cyclist Luthando Kaka - the first black South African cyclist to compete permanently as a member of a European continental team - and the Velokhaya BMX Oval that has been built in Khayelitsha.

"Poverty is rife in Khayelitsha, as it is in many other townships in South Africa. Our children are continually exposed to hardship, drugs, alcohol and crime so it is vitally important to have a facility where children can be safe and have fun together."

A man with an eye for cycling talent, Amos has been largely credited as the driving force behind Luthando Kaka, whom he often supported financially in Kaka's early cycling years when his parents were unable to do so. He is understandably excited about the Velokhaya BMX Oval's potential to identify talented black cyclists who will follow in the footsteps of Kaka, who discovered his love for cycling on a BMX bike.

"It won't be long before several LCA riders are at European level, competing on the world stage," says Amos.

And these are no empty words as Luthando Kaka's move to Europe has proven.

Getting to know Amos:

I was born with the passion for cycling and I regard it as my life's work.

I currently live in Khayelitsha and was born in Gugulethu on 6 October 1965.

I left school at the age of 14 (in 1979). While my own opportunities for school education were limited, I am proud of the fact that I am now giving other children the opportunities I never had.

I used to work as a postman for the SA Post Office. I gave up my postman job because I wanted to do something about developing the sport of cycling in the townships. I saw its potential in uplifting the youth living in these communities. Our township youth are faced with several challenges - including poverty and crime - and getting them involved in positive activities is important, as is developing positive role models.

Being involved in youth development requires passion. You also need to love children and be interested in their development and you need to be able to communicate and earn the trust of parents and the community. Without the support of the cyclists' parents, I would not be where I am today.

My personal recipe for success is hard work, loving the children with all my heart, being passionate about taking care of them and showing respect for parents and children. Also, the fact that my home is always open to the children in my community - I am there for them, and they know it. It is also important to be involved at grassroots level and earn the trust and support of the community you serve, as well as that of sporting bodies and authorities.

I am married to Lucy. She is my second wife - although many believe I am married to sport, particularly cycling! Although Lucy and I don't have any children of our own, we regard the LCA riders as our kids! We currently have a few cyclists living with us because their parents are unable to support them for a number of reasons. I also have five children from my first wife. I don't see much of them so the LCA 's children fill that void.

I relax by watching action movies (Bruce Willis is a favourite) and watching soccer (I'm a Kaizer Chiefs supporter).

The LCA is successful because it is a holistic program that develops the cyclist as a 'complete' package. Our aim is not only to develop top athletes but rather to develop people. Our programs promote an interest in cycling from the most basic level - that of teaching cycling safety - to the highest level where top athletes are able to compete against South Africa's - and now the world's - best.

The LCA is the leading cycling transformation organisation in South Africa - no other organisation has achieved the success we have. Our programs are also unique. I am not even aware of a similar program elsewhere in the world.

The LCA is successful because of the support we have received from the community and the sheer passion, dedication, discipline, motivation, loyalty and teamwork of the team - and of course, the support the LCA has received from our program sponsors. We have also been enormously grateful for the support we have received internationally from the Velokhaya partners.

Profile date: October 2009