Dusi medallist shines
Zondi was recently appointed as a Gauteng Canoe Union head of development.
Growing up in the valley of a thousand hills, Loveday Zondi and other children in his village would watch the Dusi Canoe Marathon which sparked a keen interest in the sport.
Fast track to 2021 and the Victoria Lake canoeing coach has already won various awards in the sport.
“I started canoeing in 1998 at the Nagle Dam, in KwaZulu-Natal. The late Robert Lembethe started the club and we joined.”
Lembethe was a pioneer in canoeing. He focused on taking the sport to rural areas and disadvantaged communities.
VLC canoeing chairperson Wayne Saunders said Zondi is a talented individual in many sports and has made a name for himself in canoeing.
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“He has multiple Dusi golds including podiums. He also represented SA at the World Canoe Marathon Championships in China last year.
“Most importantly is his commitment to giving back at the ‘swim to paddle’ initiative we run at the club,” said Saunders.
Competing against the best in the world was a great experience, according to the medallist.
“I got to see places I never thought I would ever go.”
Zondi explained that he also travelled overseas for the World Duathlon.
“We managed to come back with a bronze medal at the World Canoe Marathon.
“It is one of the things I won’t forget,” said Zondi.
The paddler trained with some of the best coaches in the world like Nandor Almas and top athletes like Shaun Rubenstein, Michael Mbanjwa and Michael Stewart.
“I got myself involved in school coaching and other development clubs like Soweto Canoe that got more of the up-and-coming stars.”
Saunders added Zondi was recently appointed as the Gauteng Canoe Union head of development.
“I aim to ensure all the clubs are running their development in a good way and they are looked after.
“I look forward to seeing the best canoeists coming out in all the clubs.”
Although Zondi is involved in canoeing daily he said he loves running.
Challenges in Zondi’s sportsman journey included not getting the best equipment to compete with.
“Injuries were a challenge too, at one stage I had a shoulder injury where I ended up getting an operation,” said the paddler.
In future, Zondi said he aims to win more gold medals and get sponsors.
The paddler shared his top tips on how to succeed in canoeing:
• Always aim high.
• Keep training hard, your time will come.
• Look forward to your goals.
• Focus.
• Always have the positive side.
• Never give up.
• Always ask if you are not sure of something.
• Respect others as much as you want to be respected.
• Always stay safe pertaining to Covid-19.
Contact the newsroom by emailing:
Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za , and Lebogang Sekgwama lebogangs@caxton.co.za.
