 |
NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2009
LCA WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
For many, Khayelitsha is a place characterised by 'triumph in the face of adversity' and it is these 'triumphs' or 'Khayelitsha milestones' which are celebrated and recognised each year by the Khayeltisha Development Forum (KDF).
The KDF is a community organisation which plays a key role in the upliftment of the area and its over 1 million residents, two thirds of which are under the age of 30.
The Life Cycling Academy, which has its home in Khayelitsha and which was co-founded by Khayelitsha resident Amos Ziqubu, was therefore extremely proud to receive the KDF's 'Sport and Recreation Award' for 2008.
"The Award is proof that the people of Khayelitsha have recognised the value of sport and how it can make a difference in the lives of children living in poor communities," says Amos Ziqubu. "I was personally honoured to receive this award on behalf of the LCA. The recognition is not only for those who're actively involved in the program on a day to day basis, but it also acknowledges the contribution made by our many supporters and partners - both here in South Africa and around the world - who're making it possible for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to reach their goals and achieve their dreams.
"In fact, Khayelitsha is fast becoming a 'cycling city' as support for and interest in the sport continues to grow. The sport has become so popular and entrenched into the Khayeltisha way of life that I'm confident that the legacy we've created will live on, even when we're no longer around," concludes Amos.
Read more about Khayelitsha, its history and its annual festival on www.khayelitshafestival.co.za
VALUABLE BRANDING OPPORTUNITY FOR VELOKHAYA....
Cape Town's first Pro-X extreme action sporting event was held at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on February 7-8, 2009 and Velokhaya used the opportunity to promote our activities to those attending this action-packed event. The Pro-X is based on the internationally acclaimed X-Games and provides a platform for South African alternative sport athletes to show just what they're capable of in the world of extreme sports. Thank you to brothers Calvin and Garan Reck for allowing us to be part of the action.
[Pictures from left] LCA co-founder Amos Ziqubu and Velokhaya BMX Coach Tim Bonkolo with the Khayelitsha Award. [Second picture] A close-up of the award. [Third picture] Organisers Calvin and Garan Reck (second left and far right, front) with the LCA's Glyn Broomberg (bottom, centre), Velokhaya BMX Asst. Coach, Skeezo Vilane and BMX riders, back row, from left to right Themba Njengete, Bayanda Ganyaza, Siviwe Masolo, Thando Mangolwane, Xolisa Makabalo and Akhona Jim. [Fourth picture] Ice-creams for all on a very hot day in the city!
OMNICO SPONSORSHIP 'A FIRST FOR THE LCA'
'To compete with the best, you need the best', which is why the Life Cycling Academy's co-founders, Glyn Broomberg and Amos Ziqubu, are 'over the moon' with the sponsorship they have received from one of South Africa's top cycle product distributors, Omnico (Pty) Ltd.
Omnico - a respected name in the South African cycling industry for more than 20 years - has provided the LCA's professional mens team, currently named Team GT Velokhaya, with a full product sponsorship for 2009.
Says Glyn Broomberg, CEO of the LCA: "This is the first time a product sponsor has provided the LCA with such a high level of support. Our top riders now have the equipment they need to compete at the highest levels in the sport - and to continue the impressive race performances they've already delivered in 2009." (See Team GT/Velokhaya Sports Director, Dr Jeroen Swart's race report on the Giro del Capo on www.lifeacademy.co.za)
Omnico Managing Director, Alan Hodson, explains why the company has increased its support of the LCA:
"As a company that makes its living out of the cycling industry, we wanted to put something back. We've been most impressed with the LCA and the impact its work is having on South Africa's township youth. We've personally seen the difference its programs are making and we decided to extend our support - which began in 2006 - after visiting the Velokhaya BMX Oval and speaking to riders. Our sponsorship also makes good business sense - and is good for growing the sport of cycling. Not only are we making cycling more accessible to those who would otherwise not have the financial means to participate in the sport, but our involvement is also helping to create a new market - one that never existed before."
Hodson says he is also looking forward to extending Omnico's support of the LCA to include specialised mechanics training.
"The demand for bicycle mechanics with highly specialized skills - such as repairing rear and front suspensions - is increasing as more and more South African's take up cycling, particularly mountain biking."
Amos Ziqubu said Omnico's decision to provide a six-month mechanics training program - and to assist with subsequent employment of trained mechanics - would be yet another way of using the sport to empower individuals through job creation.
Omnico, which began manufacturing helmets in 1988, today distributes a wide range of products for road cycling and mountain bike enthusiasts alike. Included in its product line up are GT, Mongoose and Schwinn bicycles, D'Arcs sunglasses, Bell helmets, Kenzo tyres, Olympic shoes and Sigma Instruments. Last year the company won the coveted 'International Distributor of the Year' Award presented by Mongoose Bicycles in Palm Springs, CA, USA. www.omnico.co.za
Omnico’s Alan Hodgson (centre, back) with Team GT/Velokhaya Sports Directors/coach, Drs Jeroen Swart and Robert Lamberts and GT/Velokhaya riders Prince Maluleke, Kurt Arendse, Sithembele Xuza and Siyabonga Mnqwazi.
LCA ACHIEVEMENTS
ON THE BIKE.....
Pick n Pay Ascends rider Emile Jacobs (15) has done it again! The 2007 South African Under 14 track and road cycling champion recently won two gold, one silver and one bronze medal at the Western Province Track Championships, held at the Bellville Velodrome from March 13 to 15, 2009. The week before the Championships, Emile was the first Under 16 rider across the line in the 2009 Pick n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour held on March 8, 2009. He finished in a time of 3 hours, 9 minutes. Emile will be competing in the National U/16 tour which takes place from April 3 to 6, 2009. He was one of the six LCA cyclists chosen to attend the 2008 Tour de France as a VIP guest of Team CSC/Saxobank. Read more and see the photos on www.lifeacademy.co.za
Congratulations to riders Songezo Jim and Siyabonga Mnqwazi who took the lead, just past Fish Hoek, in the 2009 Pick n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour and kept it long enough to win the coveted King of the Mountain title up Suikerbossie in Hout Bay. Their performances not only gained valuable TV exposure for the Velokhaya brand but also proved a wonderful follow-up to Luthando Kaka's 30 minute lead in the 2008 Cycle Tour! More about the LCA's Competitive Program's best ever Giro del Capo in the race report provided by Sports Director Jeroen Swart. (See www.lifeacademy.co.za)
We're equally proud of Team GMH's Luthando Kaka who finished the Cycle Tour in 16th position in a time of 2:46:32, the same time as the race winner, Arran Brown; Songezo Jim, the first GT/Velokhaya rider home in a time of 2:52:13 (74th position); and Head BMX coach for Velokhaya, Swen Lauer, who rode and completed his first Cycle Tour. Riders participating in this year's Tour - dubbed the Tour of Storms and considered the toughest Tour ever - braved gale force winds with speeds of around 65kms per hour. True to the words of race organizer, Dave Bellairs, "Every finisher's medal is important because this is a Tour people will talk about for years to come."
(See www.lifeacademy.co.za for finishing times of other GT/Velokhaya riders.)
[Pictures from left] Emile Jacobs (middle) gets gold at the WP Track Champs. [Second picture] Team GMH rider Luthando Kaka and Team GT/Velokhaya's Songezo Jim share a joke at the start of the 2009 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour. [Third picture] Velokhaya BMX Coach Swen Lauer at the start.
AND OFF THE BIKE....
Luthando Kaka is one smart guy and we're not only talking about his achievements on the bike!
At the end of March Luthando's family attended his graduation ceremony in Cape Town - while he was in Denmark - and received his three year Diploma in Journalism. Finding time for academic studies while pursuing an international cycling career isn't easy, but Luthando says he has achieved both thanks to the support he's received and his strong belief that education is as important as winning races. "My mentors and trainers have not only made me believe in myself and my capabilities but supported me in reaching my academic goals through hard work, dedication and commitment," he says.
Luthando Kaka returned to Europe in time to attend the Team GMH 2009 presentation, in which he took a starring role. Read more about Luthando's plans for 2009 on www.velokhaya.com
[Pictures from left] Luthando's brother, Sothembela, with his mom, Mandisa Kaka-Mbusi and stepfather Michael Mbusi.
[Pictures two, three and four] Luthando takes a starring role at the Team GMH 2009 presentation!
VELOKHAYA EVENTS FIRST CYCLE CHALLENGE TAKES PLACE SOON!
Velokhaya Events will host the first Engen Dynamic Cycle Challenge (EDCC) for 2009 in Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth on Sunday, April 12, 2009. Money raised from entry fees benefits the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital's Burns Unit and last year the proceeds from the 2008 EDCCs contributed more than R22 000 to the Burns Unit.
Visit www.velokhaya.com for more details on the race.
TEAM GMH IN SOUTH AFRICA
HOT COMPETITION ….
Five Team Glud & Marstrand Horsens (Team GMH) riders flew into Cape Town at the end of February to join team mate Luthando Kaka for the Giro del Capo and 2009 Pick n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour, the world's largest individually timed cycle race (commonly known as 'the Argus' or 'Cycle Tour').
It was the first visit to South Africa for four of Kaka's Danish-based team mates and their sports director, Michael Skelde. It was also the first race of 2009 for Team GMH, which swopped icy European conditions for the chance to compete in the hot and humid Western Cape.
Skelde says the team's 11-day stay at the tip of Africa was an enjoyable and interesting experience. "I was most impressed by the level of cycling in South Africa. While we expected a certain amount of competition from the bigger name teams - especially Barloworld who we'd competed against in Europe - we were surprised to see just how high the general standard was for a country outside of Europe.
"There are also a number of riders in the LCA who, if they continue to work hard, will be good enough to compete in Europe and I look forward to watching them develop their talent."
Skelde says a highlight for the group was the visit to Luthando's home town of Khayelitsha and, in particular, the Velokhaya BMX Oval.
"Visiting a township like Khayelitsha is an eye-opening experience; we were excited to visit Luthando's home and to meet his friends and we're looking forward to working with Velokhaya to raise the funds needed to further develop the facilities at the Velokhaya Oval."
Team GMH is currently organizing a Horsens-Paris race to raise funds for the building of the Velokhaya Cycling Centre. More details about the race and the plans for the new Centre in a future newsletter.
… AND VISITING CITY HALL!
While in Cape Town Team GMH riders took time out from their Giro del Capo training schedule to meet with Cape Town's deputy mayor, Grant Haskin, on Monday, March 2, 2008. Accompanying the team to the City Hall were Team GMH Sports Director, Michael Skelde, LCA founders Glyn Broomberg and Amos Ziqubu, Sipho Mona, The Danish Ambassador to South Africa, Jurgen Dahl and long-time supporter of the LCA/Velokhaya, Svend Brettschneider.
[Pictures from left] Team GMH riders in Khayelitsha (Picture courtesy © Cape Argus Newspaper). [Second picture] Team GMH visits the Velokhaya BMX Oval. [Third picture] Team GMH meets Cape Town's deputy mayor (a fellow cyclist!).
MORE VELOKHAYA VIP VISITS!
In recent weeks we had the pleasure of welcoming a number of visitors to Velokhaya. Among those who visited were Uwe Geissler, senior journalist for the Germany 'Tour Magazine'; representatives from Velokhaya supporter Safmarine and Mxolisi Mdletshe, a student from Pretoria. Visit www.velokhaya.com to find out more …
[Pictures from left] Uwe Geissler interviews Glyn Broomberg. [Second picture] Glyn Broomberg, Mariaan Ferreira, Andre Wenzel, Lizanne Le Clus and Peter Rebello. [Third picture] Skeezo Vilani, Mxolisi Mdletshe and Tim Bonkolo with children from the Velokhaya BMX Oval.
VELOKHAYA WORKSHOP - OUR LATEST PRIORITY
Now that we've opened the Velokhaya BMX Oval, we're often asked the question; "What's next?" Amos Ziqubu, LCA co-founder, tells us more …
"Our immediate priority is the 'Mechanics Workshop/BMX Start Ramp Complex'. The project will cost around R350 000 and entails converting the existing Safmarine-donated shipping containers - used for the start ramp of the BMX track - into a workshop and storage facility beneath a state-of-the-art starting ramp. The facility will be approximately 120m² and will house a fully-equipped workshop which will also incorporate a bicycle mechanics training program in line with the LCA's focus on community upliftment and personal empowerment," he says.
See www.velokhaya.com for concept drawings and photos…
TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 NEWS
Cervélo has been a Velokhaya supporter since our launch in London 2006 and we are delighted to hear its pro-cycling team (Cervélo TestTeam) will be competing in the 2009 Tour de France. The Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) announced the wild-card invitations to the 2009 Tour in March and the TestTeam was included in its short list.
Thomas Campana, Managing Sport Director, said: “It’s a great honor to get the trust from the Tour de France organizer to be part of the 2009 Tour. We are looking forward to defending the title of Carlos Sastre.”
The Tour de France 2009 starts on July 4 in Monaco and ends on July 26 in Paris at the Champs-Elysees.
Carlos Sastre (middle picture) and Cervélo TestTeam put in some serious training km's!
"This e-mail newsletter has been compiled and designed by Do Communicate, PR and Media Consultants to LCA/Velokhaya. Should you experience any technical difficulties in viewing the content and photos, please email us at : media@communicators.co.za "
To Unsubscribe to this newletter click here
For more on these stories, and our programs, visit our websites below.
|
 |
