January 19, 2005
By Lucky Sindane
SANDTON resident Loveday Zondi is hoping to become the first black winner of the Dusi Canoe Marathon taking place in KwaZulu-Natal at the weekend.
"Preparations are going very well," says the 21-year-old, who is strongly tipped to finish in the top five.
"If I achieve this goal sponsorship doors will open," says Zondi, who hails from KwaZulu-Natal but who relocated to Johannesburg a year ago to further his training.
The annual race, held for the 54th time this year, annual takes place from 20 to 22 January and sees entrants power their way down the Dusi River from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
The Hansa PowerAde Dusi Canoe Marathon, one of the major races on the international canoeing calendar, is the biggest event of its kind and offers the largest purse.
Born in the Valley of a Thousand Hills in KwaZulu-Natal, Zondi started canoeing at the age of 14 when Robert Lembethe started a canoe club for the children of the valley.
Since then he has completed five Dusi canoe marathons, with his personal best being 11th place in the 2004 race.
Although Joburg has claimed him as its own, Zondi also expects a lot of local support. "The end of day one of the race will be in my hometown and I'm surely going to get a lot of support and that will give me a big boost," he says.
Zondi is an all-round athlete, taking part in duathlons as a runner and canoeist.
Professor Elna McIntosh, who is providing accommodation and support to Zondi during his stay in Johannesburg, says: "Loveday is an extremely fast runner who hasn't even come close to his potential yet."
She believes he is capable of running a 31-minute 10kilometre race, "and should be in the 24s for eight kilometres". "He is an exceptionally talented canoeist and no doubt a future Dusi winner," McIntosh adds.
The young man works hard at his chosen sport, travelling to Ekurhuleni every day to train with his club.
He says McIntosh plays a big role in his life - "she is like my mother" - and is thankful "she recently bought me a boat, which I use."
Zondi travelled to Geel in Belgium in May 2004 to take part in the world duathlon championships as part of the South African team.
Although he was selected for the South African squad to compete in the world long duathlon championships in Denmark, he was unable to go because of a lack of sponsorship.
"It is very difficult to race without a sponsor because you have to buy everything for yourself," says Zondi, "but with the support of my family and Professor McIntosh I believe I can make it."
His teammates from the Ekurhuleni Kayak Club, Michael Mbanjwa and Shaun Rubenstein, are also pegged to finish in the top three. Mbanjwa made Dusi history in 2004 when he became the first black canoeist to finish in the top five - taking fourth - since the event was first event hosted in 1951.
Update
Winning smiles after the race: Loveday on the right, Michael on the left, with Elna McIntosh, with whom they live in Joburg
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