Young cyclist raising profile of the sport in Mabopane
“I am passionate about cycling and I want to see beautiful things happen from both teams I am part of. I am just a hood girl who wants to make a difference.”
A young cyclist from Mabopane has spoken of her desire to grow cycling in kasi.
Ofentse Matseke of Block X in Mabopane is part of a team that develops young cyclists under coach Peter Deeme.
“I believe it is very important to start developing from home,” said Matseke.
“We train almost every weekend focusing on off-road riding because it is safer.”
Matseke said she wished the roads were safer and there weren’t so many ignorant motorists.
“My biggest wish is to get more sponsors for these boys and hope that the team grows and more girls also get inspired to join,” she said.
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“I am passionate about cycling and I want to see beautiful things for the sport.
I am just a hood girl who wants to make a difference.
For a while cycling was a sanctuary that kept me positive despite everything that was happening in my community.”
“I train almost every weekend with my team Sui Generis (meaning simply unique).
“The most important thing about cycling is to get the technique right, and making sure you are fit enough to get on a bike which requires thorough training, commitment, eating healthy, consistency and, obviously, passion.”
She said as long as her legs carried her, she would never stop riding.
“Cycling connects one with amazing people.”
She said her passion for cycling was ignited when met Englishman, Stuart Walton, and colleague at the company worked for at the time.
“He was planning on returning home and suggested I buy his bike.
He even helped me to choose a full kit.”
I didn’t cycle until three months later when I saw two men riding past my house,” she said.
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She stopped them to ask where they were from.
A week later they invited her for a ride around the hood (Mabopane).
“It was a short distance, but because it was my first time it felt like I was going to cough my heart out,” she said.
She then started attending kasi fun rides and realised that “cycling wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be”.
“I met other cyclists. My first race was one of the biggest around, the Momentum 94.7, which I didn’t finish because I was just taking chances – I had not trained for it,” she recalled.
She said the race was so tough she wanted to give up riding.
“I thought maybe cycling was not for me,” she said.
“I was physically, mentally and emotionally not ready but other cyclists encouraged me to continue racing to improve.”
She has since raced in another Momentum 94.7 (now Telkom 94.7), Rand Water Race for Victory, Durban Amashova, Bestmed Berg en Daal, Bela-Bela Sondela, Emperors Palace Classic, Dis-Chem Ride for sight, Carnival City Macsteel, Sun City Cycle for Cansa and Bestmed Satallite Classic.
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