Khayelitsha BMX duo joins top South African BMX Team....and Danish business leaders raise funds for the further development of the Velokhaya BMX Oval in Khayelitsha

BMX enthusiasts of all ages and races gathered in Khayelitsha on South Africa's Day of Reconciliation (December 16) to watch top South African BMX cyclists and novices compete in the inaugural Canal Walk Foundation Reconciliation Cup. The event was held to promote the sport of BMX in the Western Cape - and to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of the Velokhaya BMX Oval.

Cape Town, South Africa, December 16, 2009

One of the highlights of the day was the donation of R220 000 made to Velokhaya on behalf of the Danish Team Vestjysk Bank, by the South African Danish Consul, Jorgen Dahl. In July 2009, 34 enthusiastic Danish business leaders cycled the 1200km from Horsens, Denmark, to Paris, France in support of the Velokhaya sports charity project.

Another highlight was the announcement that two promising BMXers from Khayelitsha, Bayanda Ganyaza and Xolisa Ndzaba, would be joining Team Jeep BMX. Their inclusion in the Durban-based Jeep team is focused on helping development riders bridge the gap between the development phase and the national circuit. According to Team Jeep BMX's Team Manager, Sydney Webster: "Bayanda and Xolisa were selected for their natural talent and their attitudes towards their riding and other riders".

Glyn Broomberg, co-founder of Velokhaya, said: "Bayanda and Xolisa - who only started BMXing a year ago - will continue to be based in Cape Town, at the Velokhaya BMX Oval, and will join Team Jeep at events in Kwa Zulu Natal and Gauteng, including rounds of the South African BMX Championships. The first round of the nationals will be held in Durban, at Giba Gorge, from 2 - 4 April and the Johannesburg legs will be at Alrode from 9-11 July, 2010, and we look forward to seeing them make their mark at these events."

Riders aged between eight and 50+ from Gauteng, Kwazulu Natal and the Western Cape competed in four different age categories at Wednesday's event.

Special guest on the day was Velokhaya patron and the international 'voice of cycling', Phil Liggett. It was Liggett's second visit to the Velokhaya BMX Oval; his last visit to Khayelitsha was in December two years ago to perform the Velokhaya's BMX Oval's 'groundbreaking' ceremony.

Phil had this to say about the event: "The December 16 Reconciliation Cup event was a terrific occasion for all concerned and a very personally moving one to see the fruits of so much hard work come to a reality. Everybody concerned with the Velokhaya project deserve all the praise that is heaped upon them as they have laid the foundations of a long road to success for so many Khayelitsha youngsters who will soon realise that the World is a big place and is waiting to welcome them."

Picture:
Bayanda Ganyaza and Xolisa Ndzaba , pictured here with Team Jeep's Alex and Liam Webster and Nzuzo Mngadi, will join Team Jeep in 2010 and compete, as part of Team Jeep, in national BMX events. They will also attend the World BMX Championships which will be held in South Africa in 2010.