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When I was at that stage of my cycling, I would have loved to have a pro rider that understands my challenges coming regularly to our club to keep me motivated and remind me that making a career out of cycling is not easy, but it’s worth it,” smiled Kaka. He still returns at least four times a year to Khayelitsha where he gives motivational talks and training advice to the hopeful young riders at Life Cycling Academy and goes on training rides with them. Kaka, who now lives in Johannesburg, hasn’t let his progression affect his awareness of the challenges still being faced by black cyclists from poor communities. But with Team Bonitas, there’s a sustainability strategy that’s got long term investment in black riders as it’s guiding principle,” said Kaka, who is also a qualified journalist and a member of the board of Life Cycling Academy. “In South African cycling, up until quite recently actually, black riders were signed to teams more as a window-dressing strategy.

He’s proof that commitment and hard work are still strong values, especially in a team sport like road cycling.” He’s an achiever and an inspiration not only to black cyclists but all young cyclists. He is an athlete that transcends his sport due to the tough path he’s taken to live his dream of being a pro cyclist. “In Luthando we have a role model both on the bike and off it. Luthando Kaka plans to lead by example as the new captain of Team Bonitas. There is so much young cycling talent in this country and the real challenge is creating opportunities and a support system for young riders to shine,” said Lange, a former multiple national champion in track and road cycling and Barcelona Olympian. “At Lange Sports, we’ve always made cycling development a high priority. I look forward to transferring my knowledge to my young teammates and am committed to leading this team to even greater success.” At 27 years of age, that shows just how committed Team Bonitas is to young talent. Now I’m one of the oldest and most experienced. “When I joined the team almost four years ago, I was the second-youngest rider. They aren’t afraid to break with traditional practices and have been hugely supportive of developing young riders in particular and black riders in general. “I was a surprised to be given this honour at this relatively early stage of my career, but not surprised that Barry Austin, our team manager and Malcolm Lange, our team owner, had this progressive plan in place. He’s become an indispensible member of Team Bonitas over the past three-and-a-half years and is considered a super-domestique, essentially the glue that holds the highly successful team together. But he’s a reliable allrounder and a team man of the highest order.

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He’s neither a super-fast sprinter nor a powerful climber and is he isn’t a time trial specialist either. Kaka has been a member of Team Bonitas since 2010. Luthando is one of those riders,” said Malcolm Lange, of Lange Sports, the company that owns and manages Team Bonitas. That’s why with Team Bonitas, we place high priority on creating opportunities for riders that show potential and commitment. For talented black riders in South Africa, it’s even tougher. I know how tough it can be for talented riders to make a career out of bike racing.

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“I had very few opportunities when I raced as a professional road cyclist.

He then became the first black South African to race professionally abroad when he was signed to Danish professional team, Glued & Marstrand Horsens, in 20, after which he was signed to Team Bonitas. He progressed rapidly and was named as captain of South Africa’s first full-time development cycling team, the Liberty Life Cycling Team. Kaka began his bike-racing career as a member of the Velokhaya Life Cycling Academy, the township-based cycling club in Khayelitsha, near Cape Town. Luthando Kaka has been promoted to captain of Team Bonitas, the first black rider to captain a South African professional cycling team.įor the 27-year-old Kaka, the appointment was unexpected, but for the team management, there wasn’t really any doubt about putting their faith in a man who is one of the biggest success stories in South African sports development.

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