Announcing its new partnership with Transnet and putting higher education at the top of its list of priorities, Velokhaya Life Cycling Academy unveiled its newly branded Rand Water-Transnet Pro Cycling team kit at the academy’s base in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
On its third year running, the Khayelitsha rooted Cycling Team unveiled its new colors with an addition of a new team co-partner, Transnet, who is making a first entry into Cycling. The team now called Rand Water-Transnet Cycling Team will grow its roster to a squad of seven cyclists looked after by managers Jacob Lempe and Sipho Mona whilst in Johannesburg and Cape Town respectively.
In recent times the team and riders have made their mark on the National Road Cycling scene with notable achievement in the National circuit. Highlights of the academy include; Team South Africa selection of the riders in international competitions and riders moving on to greener pastures in line with Velokhaya’s development strategy. The team which is a shadow of hope for aspiring cyclists from townships in all corners of South Africa is the flagship programme for the 100 plus Velokhaya Academy cyclists who aspire to be part of the Team and also boasts cyclists from Soweto (Gauteng), Khayelitsha (Western Cape) and Bethlehem (Free State) on its ranks.
High on the list for the youthful Team is the element of, higher education. “We are happy to be at the forefront of bringing development into our communities and cycling is the chosen vehicle for our academy towards holistic development as we aim to eradicate social ills in our communities and provide sustainable life changing opportunities for our youth across the country. The addition of Transnet as a partner in our programmes will enable us to assist the cyclists in pursuit of Tertiary education towards their chosen field of study and it is mandatory that all our cyclists are school going and the assistance towards putting our pro cyclists in that environment makes us extremely excited about their future.” said Velokhaya General Manager, Sipho Mona.
The Team plans to improve from previous success stories of podium finishes to winning events and also expose team members to international competition in their quest to follow fellow alumni footsteps of Nicholas Dlamini (Dimension Data Continental Team), Zanele Tshoko (Bestmed-ASG) and Songezo Jim (Kuwait). The Academy is also grateful and already sees the fruits of having its alumni Luthando Kaka back in its fold to further solidify the Pro Team by sourcing new partnerships, mentoring the youngsters towards the Academy’s strategic objectives of being a leader in Sport and youth development in the country.
Rand Water-Transnet Pro Cycling Team 2017
1. Lutho Maxengwana, 18
2. Thulani Antoni, 17
3. Bantu Maquba, 18
4. Thulasizwe Mxenge, 23
5. Mthetheleli Boya, 24
6. Thando Zothe, 26
7. Luthando Kaka, 31
Management:
Sipho Mona
Jacob Lempe
Anele Madlolo (Mechanic)
To support and see how you can get involved visit www.velokhaya.com
To date the academy has produced cyclists who now ride for major national and international teams, including, Zanele Tshoko (Team BestMed ASG), Nicholas Dlamini (Team Dimension Data’s Continental team) and Songezo Jim.
The academy boasts a state-of-the-art Information and Communications Technology (ICT) center, library, gym and mechanic workshop and this year will introduce a supplementary education programme to bolster its off the bike activities and truly lend credence to its tagline of growing champions on and off the bike.
