Erica Green’s report from the opening of the Kayamandi BMX track – 06 September 2008

Amidst all the crazy weather we’ve been having in the Cape, we were blessed with one of the most beautiful days – ever, for the opening of the Kayamandi BMX track!

There were many heroes of the day, but perhaps the biggest hero was our title sponsor, Pedal Power Association. The saying “money makes the world go round” is no exception. Pedal Power Association has put their money where their mouth is and for this, the Kayamandi BMX Track is massively grateful! Thank you PPA!

For every sporting event we need the use of a piece of land – if we don’t have land access, there is no sporting facility: Stellenbosch Municipality – you should be proud of yourselves for initiating this within your structures – you have set a fine example of how, with the team-work we witnessed on Saturday, you’ve raised the bar for many other municipal structures – well done and THANK YOU! Here’s to more to come . . . . watch this space . . . . !

The day started quite early: at 10 am the mural painters, Malwande and Sabelo were already hard at work – unfortunately bad weather delayed the artists’ completion, but what they did get done was beautiful! The trees were planted, bar one, for Deputy Mayor, Mr Mcako to plant for Arbor Day. The site was cleared by the Municipality – pride was evident!

The kids were buzzing and couldn’t wait to get on their bikes – I was worried they were going to “run out of steam” before they had even started to ride.

Media started to arrive around 1pm. Burry and Sifiso arrived around then too and interviews were conducted prior to the event as Burry and Sifiso would have to leave again at 3pm in order to catch their flights back home!

Members of the community, parents and guests arrived at 2pm and the opening event went ahead – quite a good feeling to think back to Dec 2007 when this was just an idea and now the reality!

It was so special to have Burry Stander (Mr Price GT - 2008 Beijing Olympics MTB) and Sifiso Nhlapo of MTN Energade Cycling Team (2008 Beijing Olympics BMX) with us for the event – their presence and example rubbed off on the kids immediately! Sifiso jumped right in with the kids and was helping them out, teaching them techniques of BMX riding, showing them riding lines around berms. The kids in turn were so bowled over seeing him on his bike and already aspiring to be just like him!

The impact this project has had in such a short space of time has been amazing – already, more tracks are planned – this can only have a positive impact on our youth. The only down-side is the fact that it will still take around 2 years to actually see the true results – however, if we don’t start now, we’ll always be behind the rest of the world!

h2. Erica Green, Road and MTB Cyclist, SA Olymian, Project Manager for Kayamandi BMX Track

Thank You all for your continuous support

Thanks to the following individuals and organizations for your valuable involvement, donations and input:

Christoph Sauser (Specialized)

Thank you for sharing your dream of creating BMX track for the kids of Kayamandi and for making SONGO.info a cause worth riding the Cape Epic for together with Burry Stander (Mr Price GT)

Songo

You’re an amazing person – thank you for your gentle and great influence you have within your community.

Kayamandi Community

You’ve set a fine example of the power of a community – well done and thank you!

Ndiphe and Odwa

Thank you both for your exceptional input and consistent manner of involvement!

* ABSA Business and Corporate Bank – Ernst Viljoen, Matthew Ellenbogen and Craig Haynes

* Super Sport – Let’s Play – Vaughn Bishop, Clive Humphries and Richard Kille

* Super Cycling – Aubrey Coetzee and Jacques Groenewald

* ABSA Cape Epic – Kevin Vermaak and Tanya Odendaal

* Meurant Botha from AMA Rider

* On-line donors through JAG Foundation

* Team Specialized

* Beta Fence – Dan Edwards

* Songo.info – Ruth Bird

* Traffic Integrated – Lee Nelson and Neil Botha

* Last, but not least – to the MEDIA – without your interest our public awareness campaign would not be seen or heard!

View images and story on Songo.info website

Young BMX’ers get boost from new community track

Getting pulses racing and legs moving, JAG Foundation in association with Songo.info Project has unveiled their latest initiative, the Kayamandi BMX Track in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch. The track, based in the heart of the disadvantaged township, will give local children the opportunity to hone their athletic skills, with the aim to instill a love of riding and a sense of sportsmanship in the area’s underprivileged youth.

Envisioned by local community leader and athlete, Songo Fipaza, the Kayamandi track was built in partnership with JAG Foundation – a Sports and Education trust – as an outlet for disenchanted youth and as a way to encourage a passion for sport within the community. The area’s children will now be able to spend their time outdoors, further developing their riding skills, in a bid to keep them healthy and off the streets.

From the outset the project has seen a host of high profile athletes contributing their valuable time toward the cause – notably Christoph Sauser, the current world mountain-biking champion and acclaimed mountain biker, Burry Stander, who teamed up for the 2008 ABSA Cape Epic in a bid to raise funds for the project.

“In addition to the support of these dedicated athletes we have also had phenomenal sponsorship support from the Pedal Power Association, the Stellenbosch Municipality and Absa,” comments Fipaza. “Special thanks should also be extended to ABSA Cape Epic, Specialized, Mongoose and generous online donors – all these partners have been instrumental in the success of the project.”

Erica Green, Project Manager and ex-Olympic cyclist, comments “The Kayamandi BMX track aims to provide a safe environment for youth, giving them their own space to practice and train.” She continues, “Our vision for the track is simple – to offer disadvantaged children a chance to experience the physical and mental benefits that this amazing sport can offer.”

Previous SONGO.INFO stories

In Febuary 2008 the JAG Foundation partnered with Christoph Sauser, the World Marathon MTB Champion and Burry Stander, SA Mountain Bike Champ in order to raise funds to build a BMX track in Stellenbosch township Kayamandi for kids from disadvantaged communities.

The project was called Songo.Info with the campaign: BUY KILOMETRES BUILD BMX TRACK

Christoph and Burry rode as a team in the ABSA CAPE EPIC challenge – grulling 950km from Knysna to Lourensford (28 March – 05 April 2008) and through their efforts raised nearly R100,000 for the purpose of the project. Majority of funds came via online donations with R50,000 donated to the project by ABSA at the official Cape Epic diner.

Further to that PEDAL POWER ASSOCATION came on board and donated R300,000 to the SONGO project which will be utilized towards the project suistanability over the next three years.

In May 2008 we were granted land approval from the Municipality and in June 2008 the construction of the track begun. The track is now complete and the SONGO team are busy working on securing the cycling equipment,sourcing maintenance services and developing educational/sport programmes for the childern who will be using the track once its ready.

For more information visit www.songo.info

Kayamandi BMX Track oficially launched