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Michael Mbanjwa has
sights set on Hansa Powerade Drak Challenge title
Underberg – Dusi Star Michael Mbanjwa has confirmed his entry for the Hansa
Powerade Drakensberg Challenge, and listed it as one of his priority events
for 2007.
The 23 year old who finished second in last months Hansa Powerade Dusi,
after leading the race at the end of the first stage, has set his sights on
a good finish in this year’s race as it is the doubling as the SA K1 River
Championships.
“I love this race,” said Mbanjwa from his base on the East Rand, where he
paddles for the Ekurulheni Kayak Club, and trains with the ace sprinters
like Shaun Rubenstein, under the guidance of coach Nandor Almasi. “But you
have to know this river to do well in the race.”
Mbanjwa was tripped up by the river last year, when he finished just outside
the top twenty in a fiercely competitive racer won by Len Jenkins. However
his awesome form in the Dusi, when he ran and paddled away from a very
powerful field, reflects his awesome current form.
Mbanjwa went on to win the Stihl Non Stop Dusi with Martin Dreyer, in a
display of running and paddling that was without peer in the small elite
field that took part.
“I am still feeling in top form, and I want to give this race my best shot.
It is special to me, and the fact that it is the SA Champs this year means
that everyone will be taking it very seriously,” Mbanjwa said.
Mbanjwa has also targeted the Hansa Powerade Fish in September, as it will
also be a K1 championship race this year. “I really want to do well in the
major K1 races this season,” Mbanjwa said.
Mbanjwa will also enjoy spending time with youngsters from the Robert
Lembethe Canoe Club who are regular supporters of this race, and base
themselves with the hundreds of campers at the Underberg School.
Mbanjwa was mentored by the late Robert Lembethe, and attributes much of his
current success to Lembethe’s guidance and motivation.
The Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge will host the SA K1 River
Championships in Underberg on 24 and 25 February. Entries closed on 17
February, but late entries are still being processed. The race website is at
www.canoesa.org.za/DrakChallenge
ENDS
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