Cycling deserves more support

For two minutes and 15 seconds on Sunday, Team Rwanda rider Janvier Hadi felt the weight of a nation as he sang the Rwanda national anthem. He had just been handed the yellow jersey and a gold medal at the All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville, a gesture befitting of a spectacular performance that saw him become the first Rwandan athlete to win a gold medal at the continental level outside of the Paralympics since Mariciane Mukamurenzi won gold in the women’s 10,000m at the 1987 edition in Nairobi. Hadi, 24, who is also the captain of the national cycling team, stood on that white board podium wearing his usual ear-to-ear smile obviously pleased with his achievement. He had done his job, did what his coach briefed him about, and completed the job that his teammates fought hard for all morning but more importantly he had made a nation proud. It is moments like these that everyone joins in, in the celebration displaying their patriotic selves with celebratory messages posting messages on their social media accounts (including me) but very few look back at the journey, the hard work and the people who have made this happen behind the scenes – the process. It feels good to be in this moment as a nation but how can we make this a constant? That whenever you see a Team Rwanda cyclist, you await a brilliant performance, a medal, dominance and an air of confidence! World over, Kenyan long distance runners have become the envy of everyone but also for those of us who cannot beat them, we join in the celebration of African pride but more so the East African spirit. However, from our concealed stations where we have made this a daily gesture, we yearn to feel this way every other week from within not as a continent behind the success of other countries. Rwanda has massive potential in cycling and what we are experiencing and celebrating now is the tip of the iceberg. The future is bright for these riders who are blossoming from the fruits of an eight-year project that is defeating countries with 100 years tradition of cycling like Morocco, Algeria, South Africa and Eritrea that has up to 60 years of cycling history. The magnitude of Hadi’s victory should be a yardstick for an awakening for every stakeholder in the sport of cycling if not for responsibility then let it be for pride and patriotism. President Paul Kagame donated 18 Pinarello Dogma F8 carbon race bikes each worth $10,000 (the latest there is on the market) as a reward for last year’s success when Valens Ndayisenga became the first Rwandan to win the Tour du Rwanda since its inception on the UCI Africa calendar in 2009. Local companies should replicate this gesture by sponsoring local clubs (there is eight of them) or even create a team and name it after the company. This not only comes with mileage for the company but also develops the sport in the long run. Numbers do not lie. Cycling is the most watched sport in Rwanda with up to four million fans at the Tour du Rwanda and this is without the figures at the inaugural 10-event Rwanda Cycling Cup that commenced in April which is sponsored by Skol and Cogebanque to a tune of Rwf40m. This money should be doubled or tripled next year and more local sponsors should come on board. Team Rwanda Cycling’s budget is up to $400,000 per year but more than three quarters of this money is from international sponsors in the USA and Europe. Rwandans need to take responsibility and be a part of the cycling team’s legacy that has continued to change people’s notions about the beautiful land of a thousand hills that has been known for the horrific 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. It is not a secret that the Ministry of Sports and Culture spends more money on football than on all the other 20 or so sports disciplines combined but the results show otherwise. I think priorities need to be made very clear and Government through MINISPOC should give more support to cycling because they deserve it beyond reasonable doubt. Mahatma Gandhi, one of the most iconic figures of all time, once said, “Action expresses priorities.”

Opinions

Cycling deserves more support