Thabiso Zindela is a local track star with his eyes on the global sporting stage, but this humble athlete needs South Africa’s support!
South Africa (24 February 2021) – Thabiso Zindela started dreaming about cycling when he was 7-years-old after he jumped on his sister’s bicycle for the first time. He joined a local church programme in Hammarsdale teaching young kids to cycle, and it has been just 6 years to get him to be selected to represent South Africa at the Track Continental Championships in Egypt.
“My father bought a bicycle for my sister when I was 7 years old. It became my bicycle more than hers because I enjoyed riding it so much,” says Zindela. His mother introduced him to a development cycling club that was part of a church mission in Hammarsdale. “We met once a month and used donated bicycles to learn the skills of how to cycle,” he said.
Zindela soon showed a talent for cycling. In 2017 he entered a development race with a one-speed bicycle and won the race. “I was recruited by the development track cycling squad in Durban and started racing track,” he said. In 2018 he entered KZN track champ and won 2 gold medals and 2 silver medals.
“I am just a poor kid from the township looking to change my life through cycling,” said Zindela. Growing in the sport from humble beginnings is rare, but Thabiso has shown grit and determination. At SA Track Champs in 2018, he won 2 gold medals and 2 silver medals.
Thabiso qualified for the Track Continental Championships at the Johannesburg Grand Prix earlier this year.
“This opportunity means a lot to me, my team and other underpriveleged boys that look up to me. I see it as a way to open doors for more talented young kids to have equal opportunities,” he said.
Thabiso is currently in Grade 12 at Lsibukosezwe High School in Hammarsdale. He hopes to focus on his cycling career when he has completed his matric and eventually go on to study business management.
“Cycling is not a mainstream sport in South Africa, and it is challenging for young development cyclists to realise their potential,” said Ibrahim Shariff, team manager of Siata Cycling Team. “Thabiso is our star performer and represents what we stand for as a team.”
Team Siata have a vision to develop young underprivileged cyclists in order to present them on the world stage.
“For me, if we could have just one cyclist from our development team representing us on the world stage it would be worth the effort for me,” said Shariff
“We are appealing to the KZN public to assist with financial donations to get Thabiso to Cairo. We know that he will do us proud. He needs R40 000 in order to get there.”
Thabiso is urging the people of KZN to help him get to Cairo and represent our province and South Africa on the world stage.
Donations to be sent to:
Account Name: Siata Pty Ltd
Accnt Number: 62694691075
FNB Branch Code 250655
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