January 26, 2005
By Ndaba Dlamini
FOR the past three years Chief Superintendent Benjamin Mashigo has been riding for the elite Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) cycling team, an undertaking that, according to him, needs dedication and strict discipline.
Mashigo started participating in cycle races under the banner of the JMPD in 2002. His first race was the 2002 Pick 'n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge in Johannesburg, where he clocked a time of four hours 40 minutes.
"The team's performance was excellent and we have grown from strength to strength. The cycling team was actually started around 1999 to 2000 when members of the JMPD got together to form the group as a pastime activity."
Any member of the metro police is welcome to join the team, according to Mashigo. "People from outside the JMPD in the employ of the City of Johannesburg are also welcome to join the team as long as they have the necessary equipment, that is, a bike and cycling attire."
The current 22-member team, of three women and 19 men, trains between 2pm and 4pm from Monday to Thursday at the Hector Norris Cycle Track. For long distance training, Mashigo says, the team uses the relatively quiet roads south of Johannesburg.
And the team has big plans. "We are in a drive to incorporate more women into the squad because, at the moment, the team's composition is skewed. The main hindrance, however, is lack of sponsorship. Last year we went all out to get sponsors - but to no avail."
Even though the team cycles under the JMPD banner, the cyclists have to use personal funds to acquire cycling equipment. And for cycling events outside Johannesburg, the team members have to dig deep into their pockets for transport, a situation that, Mashigo says, has limited participation in the team.
"Most members of the force would love to be part of the team but most do not have money to buy bikes, which are very expensive. The cycling gear does not come cheap either. But the present members are part of the team because of the love of the sport."
But that has not stopped them. This year they plan to tackle the problem of lack of funding afresh.
Despite his pressing duties as metro police chief superintendent, Mashigo says he exercises strict discipline when it comes to getting his body fit for the gruelling races.
"Every member of the team is supposed to train daily to keep in shape because cycling is demanding physically. At 5.30am everyday, you will find me in the gym, busy spinning on the exercise bike with my instructor. Sometimes I also visit the gym in the evening between 5pm and 7pm."
However, while training as a team would be best, the team cannot always get together because of work commitments. Hence weekends provide an ideal opportunity for all members to train as a team and map out strategy.
The team recently competed in the gruelling 105km Steeldale-Vereeniging Pick 'n Pay Hyper-to-Hyper cycle race where the team did "extremely well", coming 93 out of 268 teams.
Other races the team takes part in are: the Pick 'n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge held annually in Johannesburg; the 106km Durban Pick 'n Pay Amashovashova Cycle Tour; the 108km Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour; and the 112km Liberty Ride for Sight held every February in Johannesburg.
In March, the team will be in Cape Town for the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour.
Despite hitches here and there, Mashigo swears the team will be in Cape Town battling it out with the best. "Even though there is no guarantee right now that we will get sponsorship, what I know is that we will be there raising the JMPD flag."
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