Pupils hope pedalling in the CTCT will help power careers
WHILE some youngsters sleep in after a weekend of fun, Phoenix and Ocean View Secondary School pupils were up at dawn to strap on their helmets and take part in the Cape Town Cycle Tour (CTCT).
The pupils, who had been training throughout the year, participated in what was the first cycle tour for many and shared their excitement about joining the race, which some believe will gear them up for a career in cycling.
Fuad Wagie, who heads the Ocean View school team, said the pupils, aged 15 and 17, were given the opportunity to take up the sport for the first time last year and have been working hard to ready themselves for the competition.
“It’s my sixth race and the team’s first race. We prepared them since last year. The school has had cycling for the past couple of years. It’s an ongoing programme that’s enhanced every year.
“As young as they are, they were attempting 110km – not an easy task. We opted to go into the league races and some of them did very well. It was part of their preparation plan,” said Wagie.
Phoenix Secondary School matric pupils Sinothemba Mtikitiki, who led a team of Grade 10 and 11 pupils, said they had been cycling circuits in Surrey Estate during the week in preparation.
“We practise in Sea Point and Hout Bay and we do a cycle route every weekend. I’m excited because I train very hard,” said Mtikitiki.
Ocean View Grade 9 pupil Donna-lee Martins said joining the cycle team was the best decision she had made. She hopes to turn her passion for cycling into a career.
“I started cycling because there was nothing else to do – I couldn’t play netball so I decided to cycle and it was the best decision.
“I’m really excited because I want to pursue a career in it,” said Martins.
Another pupil, Musheerah Filander said: “People in our age group normally go to parties and stuff, but we cycle. We were excited and nervous… we never thought we’d do this. You get used to it because it’s your passion. It just grew on us.”
“We’ll continue for the next 10 years after we’ve matriculated ,” said Filander.