Relief as cycling gets needed push

Dar es Salaam. Cycling is among sporting events in the country that have remained more or less dormant for several decades now, however, this is set to change.

A recent move organised in the form of an Identification Camp in Babati District, Manyara Region, is one of the efforts being made by the Tanzania Cycling Association (TCA) known in Swahili as Chama cha Waendesha Baiskeli Tanzania ( Chabata) to revive the sport.

TCA chairman Nazir Manji says that they now want to pump some life into the country’s cycling sport, urging for sponsors to come forward and support contesters.

Starting point

The identification camp that TCA hosted with funds from the World’s Cycling Body brought together participants from different countries.

The participants with their respective countries in brackets included Vanzyl Jean-Pierre, Smith Andrew and Steyn Jac-Johann (all from South Africa).

Others were Hassan Osama, Ahmed Mahmoud, Shehata Ahmed (Egypt), Ndege Joshua, Gabler Mantre, Gichuru Samson and Ciugu Johnson (Kenya).

The list includes Phiri Emily, Chapita Daniel, Kadewere Jimmy (Malawi), Ananias Ananias, Hamunyela Johannes, Bath Jerniel and Mbako Lucky (Namibia), Hadi Janvier, Uwizeyimana Bonaventure and Safari Felix (Rwanda).

The others were Confiance Fadi Andre, Hoareau Dean Ian, Pothin Edward (Seychelles). Ugandans were Matovu Leon, Bukenya Edwards, Muwonge Cynthia Esther, Kyasa Herber Nabanoba Rehma, Muwonge Robert.

Tanzania was represented by Laizer Richa (Arusha), Abubakar Abdalla Madoro, Haji Nassoro, Khamis Ali, Nassoro Haji (Zanzibar), Kondo Gerald, Clement Charles (Shinyanga), Emmanuel Mathias (Mwanza), Ayubu Dickson (Dodoma), Omar Mussa (Dar es Salaam), Rashidi Ali (Arusha), Mahagama Jax (national team) and player cum-coach Bupilipili Lucas (Mwanza).

Other Tanzanian cyclists were Kitivei Samwel, Raphael Emmanuel, Mwangu Julius, Makala Mussa, Laiza Gasper and Mkoma Hamisi, all were from Arusha.

The identification camp resulted into the invitation of four cyclists to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to take part in a race where Tanzanian riders excelled.

Kondo from Shinyanga took the lower step of the podium winning the third position overall.

Mathias from Mwanza completed the tour in the top ten, finishing in the 8th position while Arusha born Ali Rashid, who is only 18, ranked 17th out of 60 other riders.

TCA has hailed the local cyclists for the spectacular performance in the recent ended Tour Cycliste du Congo held in Kinshasa.

The cyclists invited to Congo after their triumph performance in Babati were Emmanuel Mathias (from Mwanza), Gerald Konda (Shinyanga) and Rashid Ali (Arusha). They were under their coach, Lucas Bupilipili.

The race involved participants from Coted’Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.

Satisfaction

Manji says the association feels happy for the positive participation of the Tanzanian team in the event that brought together world’s renowned cyclists.

“I see a bright future for our local riders, it’s a good beginning towards our ambition of taking part in the forthcoming major events,” says optimitic Manji.

The DRC event saw the French professional rider, Clain Médric, winning the tour with Rwandan Emile Bintouninana winning the second position.

All the Tanzanian riders who participated were part of the Under-23 national team side.

Manji says that it was an impressive result for them as they are still young and can still realise their dreams of becoming international riders in the future.

He also showers praise on the riders’ coach, Bupilipili, for the good results attained by his riders.

Manji says that it is high time companies and institutions started supporting the development of cycling in the country.

He thanks a local airline company from Arusha, Thomson Safaris, an international tourism company, LG, the garment company that produced the jersey for the Tanzanian team to Congo and covered 50 per cent of the total cost of the trip.

He says the recent staged Identification Camp in Babati has cemented a good foundation for the development of cycling in the country.

“We expect our local riders to start earning international invitations after their recent impressive shows,” he says.

Development Programme

Their brave performance has, so far, yielded fruits as Kondo, who is a licensed cyclist by the Tanzanian Cycling Federation, has been invited to take part in the Development Programme of the International Cycling Union, organised by the World Cycling Centre Africa in Potchefstroom, an academic city in the North West Province of South Africa. He will reside at Dennepark of North West University of Potchefstroom, with a group of 15 athletes coming from different African countries.

The stay will start on 1 September and end on 20 November 2013 for the purpose of training in cycling.

The Tanzanian Cycling Federation will be responsible for the cost of Mr Kondo’s flight to and from Johannesburg, South Africa and he will be required to have a comprehensive international Medical Insurance for the duration of his stay there.

The World Cycling Centre Africa will provide full board, accommodation and coaching during the entire training period.

The first cycling tour of the Democratic Republic of Congo has begun in the west of the country in Matadi, a port city on the Congo River.

Cyclists from France and across Africa took part in the nearly 900km (600-mile) Tour de Congo.

Competitors rode nine stages over 12 days.

The tour, according to the Congolese Cycling federation official, Sylvestre Mutayo, has shown people that his country has infrastructure and its people are friendly and hospitable, open to tourism.”

The other African teams came from Benin, Burkina Faso, neighbouring Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda.

Mutayo, who is the president of the Congolese cycling body was quoted as saying that the sport has always been important in DR Congo.

Historically it was the most popular sport after football, but because of economic difficulties it lost the “second place” in the last decade, he said.