The chairman of Tsela Riders cycling club, Nathan Kgabi, says he is happy with his performance at the just ended Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle tour. The Tsela Riders chairman was part of at least 18 riders from the club who competed at the annual cycle tour in South Africa.
Despite not finishing the best of local riders, the Tsela Riders’ chairman’s 3 hrs 46 minutes finish in the race was satisfying for many reasons.
“I have competed in this race for six years now and I had never finished below the four hour mark. This year, I went there and did very well and actually went far below the four hour mark,” Kgabi enthused.
While finishing below four hours was satisfying, what makes him even happier is the fact that he did this and enjoyed it while also raising money for charity. Speaking in an interview, Kgabi said his effort has been richly paid as he was able to raise at least P24 000 for Tsogang Trust.
“Before I left for the cycle tour, I went around asking for pledges from companies to help me raise money for the trust during my Cape Argus Pick n Pay cycle tour sojourn. I pledged to them that they donate money to the Trust if I finish the cycle challenge under the four hour mark and they pledged. While in the past I competed in the tour as just any other sportsman, this year I was doing it for charity and I did very well,” the Tsela Riders chairman explained.
Among the companies that Kgabi said pledged to donate are Orange Botswana, Printing and Publishing Company Botswana (PPCB), Gaborone Sun, Letshego and Botswana Savings Bank. He said while PPCB has fulfilled its pledge, he is still waiting for others to fulfill.
He said as part of the deal, the companies directly deposit the money into the coffers of Tsogang Trust. The trust, which is based in Mogoditshane, cares for orphans and vulnerable children. With many cyclists taking the grueling cycling tour every year and competitively competing against each other, Kgabi said when he took on the challenge this year, he was competing and challenging his own time.
“The Cape Argus is a very challenging tour. It’s about cyclists against each other and against nature. Cyclists who win this cycle tour are professionals and for amateur cyclists like us, it is good enough to finish the race,” the Tsela Riders Chairman explained.
On the sporting front, Kgabi said he was happy with the performance of the Tsela Riders members at the cycle tour.
Leading the club’s best performers was John Bennette who did the race in 3 hrs 4 minutes, while another local rider, Moleko Majaha, finished the race in 3 hrs 14 minutes.
Meanwhile, Kgabi said he is hopeful that with good sponsors, local riders can successfully compete with professionals in the future. He said in view of this, they are in negotiations with some companies to try and find sponsors for young riders.
“We already have one company that is showing keen interest and should they come on board, we will be able to groom good cyclists for the future,” the Tsela Riders Chairman said.
