Anita Zenani - Velokhaya BMX Team

BMX rider Anita Zenani will be competing in the UCI BMX World Championship in Denmark on July 27, 2011.
This year she also competed in the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour for the first time

ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Age: 13
Date of birth: 15 April 1998
Where do you live: Khayelitsha
Where were you born: Khayelitsha
Your family - how many brothers and sisters, your parents: My Mom, my Granny and my little brother, Sibusiso.
Your parents' occupation: My mom is working for South African Police Services
Your school: Luhlaza High School
Grade in 2011: Grade 8
Favourite school subject: Two actually - Maths and Arts and Culture

ABOUT COMPETING IN THE WORLD CHAMPS IN DENMARK - 2011
How do you feel about being able to go to the World BMX Championships in Denmark: Excited because its my first overseas trip. I am also pleased to be visiting Denmark because a few years ago Velokhaya cyclist Luthando Kaka spent two years there. We hope to meet up with a few of his friends while in Denmark. The Danish cycling community has also supported Velokhaya in the past, donating funds to our project, so I am looking forward to meeting the Danish community who I am told love cycling, like I do!
What do you feel about travelling overseas for the first time?: It will be a good learning curve.I am pleased that Sipho Mona will be coming with me. His job will be to motivate me and make sure I stay focused. My mother and grandmother are also pleased he will be joining me - they didn't realise how far I had to travel until we told them!
What training have you done for the Worlds? I have mainly focused on how to get out of tight corners without crashing. Darren Stowe and fellow Velokhaya riders Xolisa, Bayanda and Wanga (who participated in the Worlds last year) have been working with me on that.
How do the other children at Velokhaya feel about your opportunity to travel to Copenhagen?: They are very excited for me. They want me to come back with a winning medal and feel I have a good chance of improving my ranking because, unlike last year, I will be riding with cleats this year.
Tell us about your bicycle?: I will be riding a new bike for the Worlds; this has definitely given me more confidence.
Who do you want to beat? I would like to beat the Australian and New Zealand riders.

ABOUT BMX
When did you start BMXing: It was round about March 2009.
What is your biggest achievement in BMX: To have been part of the World Championships in Pietermaritzburg in July. I came 6th in the World in my age category.
Other achievements-school etc: My school team and I won in a netball game and I received a netball jersey for being the best player.
When do you practice, how many days in a week and hours in a day: We practice BMX everyday from Monday to Friday for two hours from 16:00 to 18:00.
What do you like most about BMX: It keeps me busy and makes me want to achieve more and the fact that it's a new thing in the community makes me want to know more about it.
Do you participate in any other sport other than BMX: Yes. Netball and soccer which I play at school.
What has BMX taught you: Many things, for example, how to work together as a team and helping each other when one team mate has fallen and to be there for each other. It also has helped me to take care of myself and to be more independent.
What are the dreams for your future: To be a lawyer and a professional BMX rider.
Who is the person you admire most in BMX: Sifiso Nhlapho, he is the one who made me interested in BMX in the first place. The fact that he does not give up even after the injuries inspires me.I met him at last year's Worlds and I hope to see him again in Copenhagen.
How do your parents feel about your involvement in BMX?: Very supportive because it keeps me off the streets and makes me focus on better things.
What attracts you to this sport as a girl - compared to other sports: It is new in the community and closer to my house and I just thought, let me try this and then I just fell in love with it!
Do you think the girls can be as strong as the boys: Depends on who you are or what you think about yourself, but I think there is nothing we cannot do as girls if we put our effort into it.

CHALLENGES
Are there any difficult obstacles faced to achieve your goals in BMX: The shortage of bikes is a big challenge for me. I think if there can be enough bikes for each of us to train then there can be no obstacles.
Your day-to-day challenges - does your family support you etc: I have a very good support from my family and it keeps me strong.

GENERAL
Your favourite food: Fried Chicken, preferably KFC.
Your favourite drink: Fizzy drinks, I like them they keep me refreshed.
The person you admire most outside BMX and why: Beyonce Knowles - I like her music and her dance moves.
When you have grown up what would you like to achieve: Study to be a lawyer and become a professional BMX rider.
Any personal challenges besides BMX: I don't know if I can call these challenges but I hate it every time I hear on the news that another child is either killed, raped or missing - it makes me sick and depressed. If parents and society can take care of children the world will be a better place.

ABOUT CYCLING IN THE 2011 CAPE ARGUS PICK N PAY CYCLE TOUR
Have you ever competed in the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour? I had only competed in the Mini Argus, so this year's race was my first 'big race'.
Have you done any other road races? No, the Cycle Tour was my first road race.
How did you prepare for the race? In the afternoons I went for a ride and then I also kept fit by participating in the usual BMX activities at the Velokhaya Oval.

Profile date: July 2011