Peschlsports, management of the Kargo Pro MTB Team, are extremely excited and proud to announce that William Mokgopo has joined the first official UCI XCO MTB Team in South Africa. It has been a long journey from humble beginnings when William was first discovered by Simon Nash at the Diepsloot Mountain Bike Academy (DMA), and his persistence and dedication to his dream has finally borne fruit. Shaun Peschl of Peschlsports says he has been following the young star’s progress for the last two seasons. “It was clear to me that William is a hard working individual and over the last few months he has really stepped it up; I believe much of his success is a result of the support structure around him and the positivity of his friends and mentors such as André Ross, Chairperson of the Diepsloot MTB Academy, who have been walking this road with him.” William has represented South Africa on three occasions in the last eight months- at the UCI MTB World Championships, the African Continental MTB Championships, and most recently at the UCI MTB World Cup. “With more than half the season still ahead of us, we will be working hard to improve his national and international rankings,” says Peschl. The team’s immediate plans are to take William to the German MTB World Cup at the end of May as preparation for the UCI MTB World Championships in Norway later this year. William will continue to pursue his B.Sport Science degree at the University of Pretoria and his race schedule will be planned around his studies accordingly. “I am truly humbled and honoured to finally be recognised as a pro-athlete,” says William with his trademark smile wider than ever. “And that not with any team, but with the only UCI registered XCO MTB team in the country. This adds to my belief that anything and everything is possible with hard work, focus, and people who believe in you like the DMA have done for me. This is proof that dreams do come true, whether you want to be a pro-athlete, . . .

If you know your nollie from a front flip, head for Pretoria this weekend when South Africa’s own Skateboarding for Hope road show hits Menlyn Park Shopping Centre on Saturday, 17 May from 10h00 onwards. The Skateboarding for Hope community outreach initiative forms part of a series of events throughout the year that builds up to the Kimberley Diamond Cup skateboarding world championships presented by Kumba Iron Ore, which will be taking place in Kimberley in the Northern Cape in October. The tour will be traveling throughout the country to introduce South African youth to the amazing sport of skateboarding, the fastest growing sport in the country. Tour stops will include Johannesburg, Pretoria, Jeffreys Bay, Kimberley, Bloemfontein, De Aar, Alexandra, Upington, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Cape Town, Nelspruit, George as well as the Northern Cape rural towns of Kuruman, Phillipstown, De Aar, Springbok and Kathu. Each event features skateboarding clinics and demonstrations, great vibes, cool product give-aways as well as exhilarating skateboarding action as the best skateboarders in the country go up against each other. The best skater on the day also stands the chance to win a wild card entry into the amateur division of the world championships. The eight day skateboarding festival will see male and female athletes from across the globe battling it out in the professional and amateur divisions on the street and vert courses. According to Tim McFerran of World Skateboarding GP, this year’s Skateboarding for Hope initiative will once again touch the lives of thousands of youngsters. “With the support of the Northern Cape provincial government and our presenting partner Kumba Iron Ore, we have actively changed the lifestyles of thousands of South African kids. These road shows have presented local youth with an alternative leisure interest that not only keeps them active, but also teaches important life skills such as perseverance, self-control and discipline,” . . .

It will be lights, camera and action for small screen star Hlubi Mboya this weekend - not in front of the cameras, but as a rider in the world's biggest mountain bike stage race. Mboya, best known for her role as Nandipha in the hit soap opera Isidingo, will be riding alongside Bestmed-ASG's Zandile Ndhlovu in the challenging Nedbank sani2c in KwaZulu-Natal from May 15 to 17. Although relatively new to mountain biking, Mboya has proven that she is up for the challenge having already completed this year's Cape Epic. "I only started riding last year, but I've always been active and I love a challenge that pushes me to my limits. "When I was invited to compete in the Epic, I could not turn down the opportunity," said Mboya, who was hooked from the first moment in the saddle. "In a way, the sport echoes life. In mountain biking you have to conquer different terrains and life is about that. "You also have to change gears from time to time, just like you would in everyday life. "Life also dishes up its fair share of steep hills, but, once you are at the top, a beautiful downhill awaits." Mboya and Ndhlovu had an immediate connection after meeting on a training ride last year. So, when Bestmed-ASG team manager Owen Botha started scouting suitable candidates to partner Ndhlovu on multistage events like the Nedbank sani2c, Mboya was a natural choice. "She is such an amazing spirit, with the most infectious laugh," said Ndhlovu, who conquered the 270km race from Underberg to Scottburgh last year. "We always have fun on the bike." Botha, who will be riding support for the two women, has high hopes for them. "Both Zandile and Hlubi are motivated and hard-working individuals and a good fit. I don't expect them to have any problems." Mboya, who has put in eight months of rigorous training for this year's race, is equally positive. "I've spent many hours in the saddle, so I'm ready to race." The 36-year-old actress is no stranger to . . .

The University of Johannesburg is set to fend off the approaching winter cold with hot hockey action when they host the semi-finals and finals of the Varsity Cup men's hockey competition next weekend. "Hockey fans, sport fanatics and families alike will love the vibe. It's going to be fast-paced, action-packed and just all round fun," said UJ sport events manager Niamh Faherty. The competition showcases the best of university hockey with only the top teams participating over three weekends in May. This year's line-up includes UJ, Stellenbosch University (Maties), Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU Madibaz), University of Cape Town (UCT), University of the Free State (UFS), University of Pretoria (Tuks), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and newcomers Rhodes University. Going into the penultimate weekend in Bloemfontein tomorrow, UJ head the log followed by UFS and NMMU. "The standard of competition in this year's tournament is very high," said Faherty. "UJ have gone into it as one of the favourites after winning the Ussa champs last year. "They have been training rigorously with their coach (Gareth Ewing) and we are excited to see the result." UJ hockey manager Elize le Roux said it was a great honour for the university to host the elimination rounds of such a prestigious competition. "It not only showcases us as a tertiary institution and our facilities, but also the most talented young players in the country." She said the host university had produced several top-class players over the years, including current national players Clinton and Brandon Panther and Taylor Dart. Although some of the matches will be televised on SuperSport, Le Roux encouraged fans to make their way to the UJ AstroTurf in Radnor Street, Melville, from May 17 to 19. "It's much better to experience the vibe and to see the action unfold in front of you than to watch it on television," said Faherty. "Johannesburg is rapidly running out of . . .

NMMU hockey star Ignatius Malgraff is jetting off to the Netherlands in just over a week after being selected for the national senior World Cup team on Friday. The first-year mechanical engineering student is one of only two juniors included in the South African side that will be up against the best in the world in The Hague from May 31 to June 15. "This is definitely the highlight of my hockey career," said the East London-born striker. "It is such an honour to represent my country on the world stage and to play alongside such experienced players." Malgraff was one of 30 hopefuls who participated in a rigorous selection camp at St Alban's College in Pretoria recently. "Last week each of us received a personal call from the coach informing us about our selection, but we had to keep the news to ourselves until it was released to the media on Friday. "I was ecstatic when I received the good news. "And, to top it all off, I am one of only two juniors (the other being Dylan Swanepoel from the Western Cape) to have made the team." Malgraff and the rest of his team-mates will not be wasting any time and will be attending an intense two-day training session in Gauteng from May 18, two days before they leave for the Netherlands. The South Africans will have their work cut out for them as they have two of the world's best teams - Germany and the Netherlands - in their pool. "It is going to be tough, but we have many experienced players and Olympians in our team," said Malgraff. Although the Madibaz player is one of the youngest in the squad, he is definitely not lacking in the experience department. He started playing while at St John's Road Primary and continued throughout high school at Hudson Park High. He first received SA colours as an under-16 player in 2009 and made his debut for the senior side at the FIH Champions Challenge in Argentina two years ago. Last year, Malgraff was selected for the under-21 team that competed in the . . .

Oxbow Xerox has shown their commitment to this unique grass roots development programme and has adopted their forth school in the Tag Rugby® Adopt a School programme in the Western Cape. Sophakama Primary School, based in Dunoon township received ‘Tag in a bag’ equipment and their first coaching lessons this morning by skilled Tag Rugby® coaches, supported by enthusiastic Oxbow Xerox staff. This is the fourth school out of six in Oxbow Xerox’s CSI initiative. The other schools already on the programme are Levana, Zilreda and Capricorn Primary Schools. These schools are all now part of the National SARU Grassroots Development programme that will give the schools the opportunity to play in Tag Rugby® leagues and to enter tournaments run by the Tag Rugby® Association. “With the Tag Rugby® Adopt a School Programme, we are attempting to get children off the streets and away from the ills they are confronted with on a daily basis to enjoy sport with other children”, enthused Stuart MC Connell, Executive Director of the Tag Rugby® Association. Brett Furlong, Managing Director of Oxbow Xerox commented, “Making a difference in the community through improving the quality of children's lives is our social responsibility focus this year. Tag Rugby® is a reputable association this allows Oxbow the opportunity to make a direct contribution to local schools by making a difference and dedicating valuable time of our people to a worthy cause. Oxbow is making a difference because we want to be part of the positive future in the Western Cape and we encourage other corporates to adopt more schools through the Tag Rugby® Adopt a School programme". By using Tag Rugby® (which requires no infrastructure and rugby experience) the learners in under-privileged areas with no facilities enjoy the feeling of playing sport and having fun with their peers. Tag Rugby® can be played by boys and girls and there is no contact in Tag Rugby®, so the fear of injury is removed from the . . .

More than 4 350 mountain bikers will be part of the festivities when the world's biggest stage race, the Nedbank sani2c, celebrates its 10th anniversary in KwaZulu-Natal next week. Organiser Glen Haw said online entries for this year's event, which follows a 270km route from Underberg to Scottburgh, had once again sold out in a matter of seconds. "Our final preparations have now been made and we're looking forward to welcoming old friends and new participants back for another year of thrills," said Haw. "Farmer Glen", as Haw is affectionately known, founded the three-day event in 2005 (with just 247 two-person teams) as a fundraiser for his children's school. Since then, the number of participants has doubled every two years, with the 2014 edition set to host 725 teams in each of its trio of races. "When I started the event, I never ever imagined that it would grow this big," said Haw. "Logistically speaking, it has now reached maximum capacity, so we've capped the number of entries to ensure that every rider still enjoys a premium experience." He said special number boards would be awarded to the 18 members of the exclusive Black Mamba Club who had completed all 10 events. For the anniversary edition, Haw said the rest of the field could look forward to more great riding and a number of upgrades to the race villages. "This year, each race village will include 'The Barn', where people can gather to celebrate our birthday with a cup of tea and our famous banana bread and more." He said community volunteers baked more than 12 000 loaves of banana bread annually to feed the riders. The community involvement aspect was certainly the standout achievement over the past decade, with more than R20 million raised for schools and organisations along the route, said Haw. "There has been a tremendous buy-in from the locals and the rural communities have benefited greatly from their partnership with the race." In addition to the direct . . .

In a traditional game of golf, the object is to hit the least number of shots to complete an 18-hole course. However, in long drive, the objective is simply to hit the ball as far as possible, keeping the ball within bounds. While hitting a ball far is relatively important in the traditional format, in long drive it is paramount. In a sport where precision and power reign supreme, this June the country’s top long drivers will tee up against each other to see who will win the grand prize of R50 000, the title of South African Champion and an entry into the RE/MAX World Long Drive competition in Mesquite, Nevada, to be held in September this year. “The RE/MAX Long Drive competition has become a firm favourite on many golfing enthusiast’s calendars because the format of the game is simple and packed full of action. The object of the game is to drive the ball as far as possible within the bounds of a grid – it’s about power and perfect timing. Each golfer is given six balls to drive, with only the longest drive counting towards the next round. Balls that are hit off the grid are not measured. Unlike the traditional golf setting, long drive competitors are allowed to play a song of their choice while at the tee box, which also adds to the atmosphere and spirit of the event,” says Adrian Goslett, CEO of Southern Africa. RE/MAX of Southern Africa has been involved with the World Long Drive event since it was brought to this country from the US in 1998. Goslett adds that the event has grown over the years, with more and more competitors signing up each year. “As interest in the sport grows we have seen the competition get much tougher. Currently the South African long drive record is 469.9 metres, which was hit by Nico Grobbelaar in 2012. Competitors know that if they want to take home the prize money, they have to bring their ‘A’ game on the day,” says Goslett. “The distances that these golfing strongmen can achieve with just six golf balls at each attempt are . . .