Following a successful first year, the Vutta Cycling Club has committed to registering all its young cyclists with Cycling South Africa so they can forge a professional career in the sport.
“Children are at the centre of our entire programme. The interest shown by these youngsters is overwhelming.
“We are registering them with Cycling South Africa and from then onwards, there will be endless opportunities for them,” said acting chairperson Thuto Moloko.
Moloko was among members and supporters who gathered at the Lido in Daveyton to celebrate the club’s first birthday on April 23.
Dressed in their multi-coloured gear and riding their mountain and road bikes, the cyclists marked the day with a 75km ride from Daveyton to Springs and back, which was followed by a bash at their base.
Reflecting on their first year, Moloko said they were able to accomplish a lot within a few months.
“It was a roller-coaster year. Fortunately we had a history of cycling so putting things together was a bit easy because we all knew what we needed,” he said.
With youth development at the centre of their programme, Moloko stated that in their second year, they are going to accelerate more.
“We accelerated quickly from mountain bikes to road bikes because we had youngsters who were quite keen.
“In a short space of time we had children on road bikes riding very fast and who have also been trained to ride distances of around 80km,” said Moloko.
Humble beginnings
The club was formed in April last year and has a total membership of 54 cyclists, including 28 children.
It was formed following a split from the Mpongo Cycling Club.
Moloko said their vision centres on using cycling to change the lives of young people and primarily, to change the image of their community.
“Our vision is to put Daveyton on the map and give the community an image opposite of what is generally seen in the media.
“We want to change it so that we can be seen as a sporting township that promotes a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
Known for their famous ‘Vutha umlilo’ chant which means to light a fire, Moloko said it’s a display of energy which was coined to promote excellence in cycling.
“We are trying to show the community that when you are a group with a common interest, nothing is insurmountable.”
Challenges in their first year
Radebe admitted that despite their successes, some of the setbacks they faced include a lack of resources and parental involvement.
“Membership has risen. Children form half of our membership and as a result, we run short of bicycles. We need resources, especially for our young riders.
On parental involvement, Moloko urged the parents to avail themselves to encourage their children, adding that this will also help them share their vision of the club with them.
Looking ahead
Moloko stated they want to produce cyclists who will compete at the highest level and for this to happen, they need help from the community.
“We want to take as many children off the streets as possible so they can look forward to taking part in sport. Our biggest challenge is resources, especially bicycles.
He appealed for assistance to the community so that they can build a successful club.
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