Pedalling to success
DIEPSLOOT – William Mokgopo named new South African ambassador for French sports-inspired lifestyle brand, Le coq sportif.
South African mountain biker and Diepsloot resident, William Mokgopo, has been named the new South African ambassador for French sports-inspired lifestyle brand, Le Coq Sportif.
Mokgopo, who discovered cycling when he was 14 years old, said being named the brand ambassador for the lifestyle brand was one of his biggest achievements to date. “I’m really honoured to represent Le Coq Sportif and I’d like to thank them for recognising my potential. For me, this is not just about apparel, it’s about a partnership with a brand that shares my vision and is willing to grow with me,” he said.
The ambassador position entails product seeding, partnering for charitable drives, print advertisements in selected media, in-store visuals in retail stores, and media appearances. He is the first cyclist to be associated with the brand in the country.
Mokgopo added that he planned on using the platform to give back by getting involved in a number of projects that would inspire and uplift young people in his community. “My roots are at the Diepsloot Mountain Bike Academy, that’s where I started cycling. The whole idea is to expand cycling in the township and give back. I want to show and inspire other youth in similar situations to see that with hard work, determination and a team of people who believe in you, you can achieve your dreams no matter where you come from.”
Mokgopo said he already had a Diepsloot fashion show lined up on 27 April. “Fashion is something that is close to my heart, obviously after my first love which is cycling.”
The main aim of the show will be to inspire and introduce community members to things that are usually thought of as ‘suburban’ and not considered as normal in a township.
After training for a few years with the Diepsloot Mountain Bike Academy, Mokgopo was first identified by Cycling South Africa to participate in the 2013 UCI MTB World Championships in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. He competed in the 2014 UCI MTB African Continental Championships in Cape Town and shortly thereafter he was signed to the Kargo Pro Cycling Team.
He has completed the eight-day Absa Cape Epic mountain bike stage race four times and is the Gauteng XCO champion. He most recently won the Momentum 947 MTB Challenge.
Mokgopo is currently completing his Sports Science degree at the University of Pretoria.
