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‘PRICELESS NATIONAL KIT MY PRIDE’

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MBABANE – He has won the national champions in his first road race locally, had won awards in and out of the country and boasts of the much-revered Green jersey in cycling. 

His inspiration to cycling was his father who bought him his first bicycle at four years and then another at age six. He developed passion for the sport that has taken him to parts of the world he would never have seen without the love of a bicycle. He even races in one of the expensive bikes costing E35 000, which is his personal most expensive in his collection. That is MTN Khemani Cycling Club top cyclist Sicelo Phiri. Learn more below;

Who is Sicelo Phiri and where are you from in a few words?

Sicelo Sicelokuhle Phiri is from Ezulwini Valley (Nshakabili) but spent most of my childhood at Nkhaba constituency.

I’m 28 years.

Share your cycling background to the present time. Where and how did it all start?

I was introduced to competitive cycling by my best friend Kieran Vincent from Buhleni Chalets at The Gable’s in Ezulwini in 2014.

He wanted me to help him build a cycling track at the Coronation Park in Mbabane, to help train Swazi cyclists and help them get that Cross Country experience before they can go to competitions like the Commonwealth Games and Olympics. So, he promised to buy me a new bike and I joined his team, Chasing Horizons. After a year racing, I became the strongest rider in the team, but Kieran was leaving to the USA. So, seeing the potential and promising future ahead of me, he and Nokwanda Kunene introduced me to MTN Khemani, a team that was developing young emaSwati cyclists from amateur to professional and international standards. Club president, Dr. Futhi Dlamini was so impressed by my performance he gave me everything, trained me and helped me win the National Championships in my first road race locally as I was an MTB racer. 

Which has been your most expensive bike, how much was it?

The Bianche Bike, It’s a brand from Italy worth E35 000 and was bought for me by the MTN Khemani Cycling Club.

What has cycling as a sport done for you that you can say is a lifetime treasure?

Cycling has opened doors and made me a role model in my community. 

You have been with MTN Khemani and one of their best but you quit and didn’t race this year. Why and will you return?

I decided to take a break for my body to heal and recover from injuries as well as overtraining, but I’m still training and I’ll come back stronger than before. 2021 is my year.

You have raced in and out of the country, which has been your favourite race and why?

It was a race in Graskop, Mpumalanga in South Africa.

I almost won it after breaking away to an eight-kilometre lead but I finished as the first and only LiSwati cyclist to be awarded the Green jersey. (Green jersey: The green jersey, or maillot vert, is the sprinter’s jersey. At every stage, points are awarded to the first 10-25 riders that cross the finish line)

Which places has cycling taken you that you would never have seen by yourself?

A lot of places but Gaborone, Botswana was my favourite. I still have friends there and I can go there anytime.

Your worst moment as a cyclist, do you remember it?

It was in Luxor, Egypt. The road was flat and while I’m good on flats the problem was the corners, we used the left side all the time like driving in America as opposite to driving here. I was fit but wasn’t used to the left side. So, I would keep up with the guys but struggled in the corners.

Tell us about the cycling gear, is it cheap or expensive? How much was your most expensive one?

Like with clothes, we have expensive and plain kits which are affordable. All my kits were expensive but the most expensive one was the National kit because it’s priceless. Only your sweat and hard work can buy that one.

Can one survive through cycling in the country?

Some teams are trying but we haven’t reached that stage yet. One still needs to have a job or business to balance it with your cycling career.

Your best cyclist in the world?

Its Dely Impey. He is a professional from South Africa and such an inspiration to all African cyclists, it doesn’t matter where you are from, he preaches that anything is possible if just believe in yourself and he’s riding for my favourite team, Scotte . I love everything from Scotte like their bikes, helmets, gear and shoes...

Your message to the young and upcoming athlete?

All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.

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