The Sunday Independent

Grooming boys into men ... one bike at a time

TSHEPISO TSHABALALA tshepiso.tshabalala@inl.co.za

“THE youth are our future” is a phrase often used in society to inspire young people. But what kind of future does the youth have if not much is invested in their development?

Abundant talent, particularly sporting talent, is not nurtured in the township and rural community schools, as urban schools do with their learners. Certain sporting codes, such as cycling, are often offered in Model C schools, but not at many public schools in the townships.

Sityebi Mbatsha, a 34-year-old man from Ekurhuleni, wishes to change how cycling is perceived by local community members. Early this year, Mbatsha and his partners, Sphamandla Makana and Dumisani Mkhwanazi established a cycling club where they teach young boys between the ages of 8 and 15 to cycle at least twice a week.

Growing up in Port Elizabeth, where he was fascinated by bicycles from an early age, and which later sparked his passion for cycling, he was prompted to learn all that he could learn about bicycles and how they operate. He currently works as a bicycle mechanic in his community, and that is how he met most of these young boys that he coaches.

The former Ekurhuleni Cycling Club member said running his own club had proven to be quite a difficult task, as he did not have enough bicycles to cater for all 30 lads he is coaching. Currently, his club only had two bicycles, but had secured three frames that he planned to build up.

“The main challenge that the academy is facing is that we are growing and we only have two bicycles that are working, and we do not have proper sports gear such as helmets and cycling gear. Another challenge is that it takes time to get registered as an academy. The Social Development Department declined my application,” said Mbatsha.

The zealous teacher said his application to have the academy registered was first declined in 2019, and he tried again last year, with the same result. He felt this was holding the academy back from reaching greater heights such as, becoming a member of Cycling SA.

“We have been doing what they (Social Development) have told us with regard to how to register an NPO, but our attempts to register have been unsuccessful.

“So we figured it would be best if we establish the academy and register it later, because we would be registering something that is already in existence, unlike just registering an idea on paper. I think once we get on our feet, the process will be much easier and faster,” he added.

Apart from cycling classes, Mbatsha hopes to be a positive influence on the young boys and bring them closer to God. He wants to see them grow into responsible young men who will make society a better place.

“The purpose of the cycling academy is to remove these young boys from the streets and steer them away from negative things. I recently spoke to our local pastor, asking him if I could bring the boys to church on Fridays for their youth development sessions so that they can also learn from that and be drawn closer to the Lord,” said the coach.

Despite the club’s learners being “boys only” at present, Mbatsha said they did not discriminate and hoped young girls who were interested in cycling would come and join them.

“For now, it is only boys that have shown interest in cycling and most of them have bikes that they have been riding all along. From my observation, girls do not seem to be too interested in cycling.”

Sinokuhle Mavuso, a mother to one of Mbatsha’s learners, said she did not understand how the club worked because Mbatsha had not fully explained to the parents what his plans were. She, however, did not mind her child partaking in the club’s activities, despite her being uncomfortable with him going there.

METRO

en-za

2021-09-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thesundayindependent.pressreader.com/article/281642488308230

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