Injury sends ex-star off-field onto mountain paths
Former Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows defender, Gordon Gilbert's hamstring injury sent him off-field, and eventually led to his resignation from soccer, but he didn't let that stop him as he is now making big money as a cyclist.
Gilbert, who is based in Pretoria, won the 70 km Kremetart Road Cycling Race in Louis Trichardt two weeks ago and the Mountain Bike race the following day.
“I know the majority of soccer players suffer when injuries cut their careers short. Some advice I can offer them is that when the football door closes, they should keep their eyes and ears open because another door opens elsewhere. They shouldn’t regard injuries as a complete career stopper.
“An injury might stop your current career, but it might lead you on the road to even greater success,” he said.
“I’m a South African but I grew up in Scotland and started my football career there. I returned to South Africa and joined Amakhosi in 2008 and left at the end of 2009 to join Moroka Swallows. I then joined Mpumalanga Black Aces and later played for Thanda Royal Zulu until I had to leave the sport in 2013 after 13 years due to a hamstring injury,” he said.
“I started to focus more on cycling and I’m glad to be the winner of the 70 km Kremetart Road Cycling Race and the Mountain Bike race. Apart from cycling, I’m helping my father in the mining industry and conducting soccer clinics outside the Kruger National Park. I also educate people to protect our country’s beautiful wildlife and precious heritage.
Now I’m preparing for the Tour de Tuli cycling race, a five-day mountain bike tour travelling through the Great Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and ending at Pafuri Camp in the northern part of the Kruger National Park. Another big upcoming race is the Isimangaliso, a unique four-day, 260 km event which allows mountain bikers access to areas within iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in Nelspruit, far off the normal tourist routes, allowing riders to experience the values this park has to offer. Next year, I will participate in the Cape Town Cycle Tour,” said Gilbert.
