INLSA
Canoeists Michael Mbanjwa, front, and Eric Zondi train at Nagle Dam yesterday. The two are favourites to win the Unlimited Dusi this year. Picture: DOCTOR NGCOBO
KwaZulu-Natal canoeists and best friends Michael Mbanjwa and Eric Zondi have emerged as the favourites to win the world’s toughest canoe race, the Unlimited Dusi, which starts next month.
Former champion Mbanjwa, 28, of Mkhabathini Valley, outside Pietermaritzburg, said yesterday that while being hailed as favourites was “flattering”, winning the race would not be that simple.
“The other athletes are training secretly and we cannot write them off,” he said.
“We train hard every day for at least three hours.”
Meanwhile, Zondi, 24, of Shongweni, said winning the Unlimited Non-Stop Dusi (a non-stop race of 120km from Pietermaritzburg to Durban) last year seemed like yesterday.
Speaking to The Mercury at Nagle Dam, he said he had grown up watching people canoeing, never thinking he would be part of it.
Now he would be taking part in the race for the seventh time.
“We have been training intensively. Hopefully that hard work will pay off next month,” he said.
The two men took part in the K2 doubles in Singapore last year finishing 10th, and competed in The Unlimited Ozzie Gladwin canoe marathon at Albert Falls in November last year, claiming second place.
Inspiration
Race organiser Ray de Vries said the pair were in “top form”.
Zondi said racing alongside Mbanjwa was an inspiration.
“Even though he has more experience than me we respect each other and he does not take me lightly,” he said.
“The Dusi is the toughest race, and to win it with Mbanjwa will be special.”
While Mbanjwa, who is taking part for the 13th time, said all the talking would stop on February 16.
“To be named as favourites shows that we are ranked among the best athletes,” he said.
“Winning this race together will inspire younger children who want to join the sport.”
The Unlimited Dusi will be held from February 16 to 18. Meanwhile, De Vries said that while the hyacinth weed in the river has been a big worry for organisers, a helicopter had been brought in to spray it.
The chairman of the organisers, Cameron Mackenzie, said: “We have word from the crew that the hyacinth is already starting to turn brown, and will start sinking soon.”
