Nedbank sponsors Namibian cycling team

Nedbank Namibia on Thursday announced a sponsorship of N$350 000 to the Namibian Cycling Federation, to support the national team that will compete at the African Continental Cycling Championships in Egypt from 29 November to 5 December.

At a press conference at the Namibia Sports Commission, Nedbank’s managing director Lionel Matthews said that their commitment to cycling remained as steadfast and resolute today as when they introduced the first edition of the Nedbank Cycle Challenge in 1986.

“The support that we have been receiving from the cycling fraternity has been the main reason why we can lay claim to hosting the biggest mass participation sporting event in the country. And that underpins our involvement with the national cycling team’s participation in the African Continental Road Cycling Championships in Egypt,” he said.

Matthews said that following the success of the 28th Nedbank Cycle Classic in February, they decided to help grow the sport even more amongst Namibians, by becoming involved with the Physically Active Youth organisation as well as the Oshakati Cycling Club.

“During the course of this year, we have seen the rise of the Nedbank PAY Elite Men’s cycling team and we are justifiably proud of the fact that three of the team members have been included in the national team for the African Championships,” he said.

Namibia will send its biggest team yet to the continental championships and will compete in the Elite Men and Women, Under 23 Men and Women, and Junior Men and Women’s categories.

The Elite Men’s team consists of professional cyclist Dan Craven, Gerhard Mans and Heiko Redecker, while the Men’s U23 team consists of Costa Seibeb and PAY cyclist Fiffy Kashululu. Pascal Marggraff will represent Namibia in the Junior Men’s category.

The Elite women’s team consists of Heletje van Staden and Irene Steyn, while Vera Adrian will compete in the Women’s U23 category and Chelna Neethling in the Junior Women’s category.

Two PAY cyclists, Jojo Amunyela and Lucky Mbako will also accompany the team to gain international experience.

The president of the Namibia Cycling Federation, Mannie Heymans is the team manager while the NCF’s secretary general Gerrit van Schalkwyk is the team’s technical assistant.

Till Drobisch is a late withdrawal from the Namibian U23 Men’s team after he injured his neck in a cycling accident last week, but according to Heymans, one of the development riders could still be included in the U23 team.

“I will speak to their coach and Jaco van Zyl of the African Cycling Centre to gauge their form and depending on that we might include one of them in the Under 23 team. But the main idea is for them to go along to gain experience of international competitions,” he said.

The chief administrator of the Namibia Sport Commission, Shivute Katamba congratulated the NCF and Nedbank Namibia on the partnership that they had forged.

“I am very proud that you have forged a partnership with Nedbank Namibia and we are very happy to see the private sector becoming involved in the grooming of our young stars,” he said.

Matthews meanwhile announced that online entries for the 2014 Nedbank Cycle Challenge had already opened and urged members of the public to enter at www.nedbankcyclechallenge.com

“As we strive towards minimizing our impact on our pristine environment, an additional incentive to enter for the Cycle Challenge online means that three lucky entrants and their partners will be receiving prizes for a luxurious getaway to the upmarket Emanya resort,” he said.