![\"HJS_2253lrweb.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-05924700-1376474713.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Luthando Kaka has been promoted to captain of Team Bonitas, the first black rider to captain a South African professional cycling team.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
Photo credit: HENDRIK STEYTLER<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/div>\n
For the 27-year-old Kaka, the appointment was unexpected, but for the team management, there wasn\u2019t really any doubt about putting their faith in a man who is one of the biggest success stories in South African sports development.<\/p>\n
Kaka began his bike-racing career as a member of the Velokhaya Life Cycling Academy, the township-based cycling club in Khayelitsha, near Cape Town. He progressed rapidly and was named as captain of South Africa\u2019s first full-time development cycling team, the Liberty Life Cycling Team. He then became the first black South African to race professionally abroad when he was signed to Danish professional team, Glued & Marstrand Horsens, in 2008 and 2009, after which he was signed to Team Bonitas.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had very few opportunities when I raced as a professional road cyclist. I know how tough it can be for talented riders to make a career out of bike racing. For talented black riders in South Africa, it\u2019s even tougher. That\u2019s why with Team Bonitas, we place high priority on creating opportunities for riders that show potential and commitment. Luthando is one of those riders,\u201d said Malcolm Lange, of Lange Sports, the company that owns and manages Team Bonitas.<\/p>\n
Kaka has been a member of Team Bonitas since 2010. He\u2019s neither a super-fast sprinter nor a powerful climber; and is he isn\u2019t a time trial specialist either. But he\u2019s a reliable allrounder and a team man of the highest order. He\u2019s become an indispensible member of Team Bonitas over the past three-and-a-half years and is considered a super-domestique, essentially the glue that holds the highly successful team together.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a surprised to be given this honour at this relatively early stage of my career, but not surprised that Barry Austin, our team manager and Malcolm Lange, our team owner, had this progressive plan in place. They aren\u2019t afraid to break with traditional practices and have been hugely supportive of developing young riders in particular and black riders in general.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I joined the team almost four years ago, I was the second-youngest rider. Now I\u2019m one of the oldest and most experienced. At 27 years of age, that shows just how committed Team Bonitas is to young talent. I look forward to transferring my knowledge to my young teammates and am committed to leading this team to even greater success.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Lange Sports, we\u2019ve always made cycling development a high priority. There is so much young cycling talent in this country and the real challenge is creating opportunities and a support system for young riders to shine,\u201d said Lange, a former multiple national champion in track and road cycling and Barcelona Olympian.<\/p>\n