Thulani gears up for FNB Dusi
The local paddler is trying to balance his work life, home life and his love for canoeing.
VALLEY of a 1 000 Hills canoeing icon, Thulani Mbanjwa, is readying himself for another strong showing at the 2017 FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon in February next year.
“I know I’m still good enough to compete and my experience is a big advantage for me now too. I still love racing and I know I still have lots left in the tank as far as my paddling goes,” said the 33-year-old. “It’s just difficult to find the time to train properly as I’m very busy with my job and I’ve also got a young family I have to think about and care for as well.”
Thulani etched his name into South Africa’s sporting history books when he and Martin Dreyer claimed a victory at the iconic paddling event in 2008 in K2 race record time. He has also notched up a list of Dusi results that is the envy of most paddlers. Thulani had two second places (2009 and 2010), a pair of thirds (2011 and 2012), a brace of fourths (2014 and 2015) and a fifth place (2013), together with his win in 2008, are only offset by his and K2 partner, Shaun Rubenstein’s eighth place effort in 2016.
Thulani is the development officer for the KwaZulu-Natal Canoe Union and spends much of his caring for and mentoring the next generation of paddling stars, a job he thoroughly enjoys. “Development in canoeing has received some great support from the KZN Department of Sport and Recreation in the past and even though this continues, we are now having to go out and look for more money from corporates to support our programmes,” he explained.
“We recently opened a Development Trust and a lot of my time is going to be spent traveling and going to meetings to secure funding from businesses for our development team to learn to paddle, travel to and take part in races. Without making any excuses, it’s tough to know whether I’ll now have enough time to train before this Dusi for me to be right up there again. I started my training early and I will still do my best, but I know I will also be very busy with work.”
Seeing his young protégés climb the ranks brings him great joy, but so does his racing, a tricky equation the paddling icon currently finds himself trying to balance. “In my heart, all that I want to see is some of our youngsters on the podium at Dusi and other big races around South Africa,” he said.
Regardless of his final physical condition come February’s encounter, the 2017 FNB Dusi will be another special time for Thulani, who feels privileged to race in front of his own community. “Racing on my home ground, with the support that I get right through the Valley, is what I love the most about the Dusi,” he beamed.
