Sibonelo Kwela has set his sights on becoming the first solo black paddler to win the prestigious Dusi Canoe Marathon.
He’s no stranger to success‚ having won the race in the K2 category with his partner Andy Birkett. But with the two now in the solo K1 race‚ which starts in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday‚ Kwela wants to win it on his own steam.
“Tomorrow's going to be a big one‚ but I'm ready for it. Bring it on!" Kwela said at a top paddlers’ press conference on Wednesday morning.
But even with these lofty ambitions‚ he knows that beating Birkett will be tough. “Tomorrow I think we'll all be looking for Andy. He's the one to beat.
- Dusi canoe race inspires a movie - coming soon to the big screenA feature film is being produced about one of the world’s toughest river races‚ the Dusi canoe marathon - inspired by the the true story of former gold medallists Siseko Ntondini and Piers Cruickshanks.
- Dusi victory waits for no manWith six weeks to go before this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon‚ Sbonelo Khwela has already entered the final phase of his preparations for three gruelling days on the 120km watery trek from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
“But I'm feeling good‚ I'm feeling confident. My build-up has been going very well. I've been training since November for this Dusi and I've been doing well in some recent races‚” he said.
Birkett said this year’s race‚ which finishes at the mouth of the Umgeni River in Durban on Saturday‚ will be tight.
“I’m looking forward to racing tomorrow. Dusi's always got such a nice atmosphere and there are a great bunch of guys to race against. We're going to be in for a treat… as recent rains mean we’re going to have a lot of fun on a fuller river‚” he said.
- TMG Digital
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 