Xolisa Makubalo - Velokhaya BMX Team

Xolisa Makubalo is one of two Velokhaya riders chosen to join Team Jeep in 2010. Xolisa - who only started riding BMXs in January 2009 - will be based in Cape Town, at the Velokhaya BMX Oval, and will join Team Jeep at events in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) 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.

I was born on 18 January, 1995.

I am a learner at Manyano High School in Khayelitsha. I will be in Grade 9 in 2010.

I currently live in Khayelitsha with my grandmother and cousins.

I am the third eldest of five siblings; my brothers and sisters live with my mother and father. I am happy staying with my grandmother because it allows me to be part of the BMX.

I enjoy it when my grandmother and cousins watch me race. My father has been to see me race; he says he can see BMX is good for me.

I started riding BMX in January 2009.

I enjoy being on the track and feel safe at the track; the streets are not safe.

I train 5 days a week from 16H00 to 18H00.

I do well at BMX because I like winning and don't like being beaten; I am also fast and naturally talented at sport. I used to play soccer and once won a medal as the best player.

I like BMX because it's full of action. I also believe BMX will take me far; that it can make me a big person, one with a future.

I dream of winning the BMX World Championships and one day becoming a pilot. I want to prosper in BMX and be successful so that I can help improve life for my family.

I admire Sifiso Nhlapho because he is one of the top BMX riders. I also admire BMXer Darren Stone and am grateful for the skills he is teaching me.

BMX and my coach have also helped me focus on what's important in life. I know that I have to achieve at school, not only on the track, and my marks have improved a lot in the year I have been BMXing.

Focusing on BMX has also helped me deal with the difficulties in my life. I've had no contact with my mother since 2006; my mother started to drink and do bad things when I was 11 which is why I came to live with my grandmother.

My favourite food is bread.

I like to drink orange juice.

I enjoy house music and movies starring Jean-Claude van Damme.

I am excited about the opportunity to travel and join Team Jeep at races next year, as well as racing at the South African BMX Championships in Durban.

I have never been outside the Cape and am also excited about my family seeing me on TV.

Profile date: December 2009