Fit as a fiddle
The 32-year-old security officer has high hopes of becoming a professional cyclist in the near future.
Sakaria Augustinus is determined to become a top cyclist one day.
The 32-year-old cycles to work every day and has set his sights on taking part in local competitions.
“I get up at 05:00, take a bath and cycle to work. Each day I do this. Sometimes it is very cold, but I need to get to work,” said Augustinus.
Born in Oshikuku in the Omusati Region, Augustinus who is employed as a security officer, moved to Windhoek in 2010 in search of greener pastures.
A father to three daughters, Augustinus uses his meagre pay to provide for his family and thus cannot afford taxi fares every day. For many years now he has been cycling from Okuryangava in Katutura where he lives to workplace in Eros. He has since become an ardent cyclist even though he has been riding bicycles since he was 12 years old.
“It was not a perfect bike, but we taught ourselves how to ride. The children I grew up with wanted to become teachers and police officers but all I wanted to do was cycle,” he said.
Around 1994, he started watching the likes of local cyclists Dan Craven and Mannie Heymans on television.
This pushed him further into the cycling spirit.
“If they could do it, I could too.”
His quest to cycle was strong. He wanted to race like them on TV but his dream never came true, because his family could not afford to buy him a bicycle and there were not many cycling competitions when he was growing up.
There was also no way his parents would settle with their son being a professional cyclist.
It was unheard of at the time.
He was forced to stop dreaming and look for any job, as long as it pays. That is how he became a security guard; protecting people's property day and night.
“Someone has to do it. I never had many opportunities in my life, but I learned never to complain about what I do not have,” he said.
Because of demands of the big city he could not afford to keep up with the ever rising taxi fare to and from work and decided to buy a bicycle from his earnings.
A bike which he used all year round was stolen when he went into a local shop to buy some food.
“I was disappointed but I cannot be angry over something which already happened. I again saved up and bought a mountain bike from a man who was selling his property in order to leave the country. I found him on Facebook and after negotiating with him; he agreed to sell the bike to me for N$2 000,” he said.
“The tyres were old but with time I managed to replace them. I really enjoy my bike as it can take me anywhere. I even use it on gravel, it just works fine.
It is not like those bicycles we grew up riding in the north. They are very strong and people in the north use them until this day to transport goods. But it is not an ideal bicycle for riding to work fast.”
Augustinus said that on his off day, he cycles the Daan Viljoen road. “My shifts are unpredictable but when I am off, I train intensively as I would like to take part in the Tour de Windhoek cycling competition. From work in Eros, I cycle to my friend's gym at his house in Grysblock, where I work on my upper and lower body strength. I am very fit I tell you. I have been cycling for years. If I find you on the street, I might even overtake you with my bike,” he said giggling.
“I am sure my bike will not die on me before I take part in the tournament. I just need to find the registration fees,” he said.
The registration fee to take part in the Tour de Windhoek is about N$2 300.
Augustinus, who is affectionately known as Sacky, is a huge fan of the late cycling sensation Costa Seibeb, who died in a car crash this year.
“I used to meet Seibeb in my neighbourhood. He promised that he will help me with my cycling, he really passed away at a time I needed him the most,” he said.
“If an opportunity arises for me to cycle in a local competition, I would do it not for the money, but to leave behind a legacy which my daughters can follow. I am not getting young; my children look up to me. This is a dream I had for years and I want to teach my daughters that they can achieve anything if they put their minds to it. No matter the situation they grow up in. They can do it.”
LIMBA MUPETAMI
The 32-year-old cycles to work every day and has set his sights on taking part in local competitions.
“I get up at 05:00, take a bath and cycle to work. Each day I do this. Sometimes it is very cold, but I need to get to work,” said Augustinus.
Born in Oshikuku in the Omusati Region, Augustinus who is employed as a security officer, moved to Windhoek in 2010 in search of greener pastures.
A father to three daughters, Augustinus uses his meagre pay to provide for his family and thus cannot afford taxi fares every day. For many years now he has been cycling from Okuryangava in Katutura where he lives to workplace in Eros. He has since become an ardent cyclist even though he has been riding bicycles since he was 12 years old.
“It was not a perfect bike, but we taught ourselves how to ride. The children I grew up with wanted to become teachers and police officers but all I wanted to do was cycle,” he said.
Around 1994, he started watching the likes of local cyclists Dan Craven and Mannie Heymans on television.
This pushed him further into the cycling spirit.
“If they could do it, I could too.”
His quest to cycle was strong. He wanted to race like them on TV but his dream never came true, because his family could not afford to buy him a bicycle and there were not many cycling competitions when he was growing up.
There was also no way his parents would settle with their son being a professional cyclist.
It was unheard of at the time.
He was forced to stop dreaming and look for any job, as long as it pays. That is how he became a security guard; protecting people's property day and night.
“Someone has to do it. I never had many opportunities in my life, but I learned never to complain about what I do not have,” he said.
Because of demands of the big city he could not afford to keep up with the ever rising taxi fare to and from work and decided to buy a bicycle from his earnings.
A bike which he used all year round was stolen when he went into a local shop to buy some food.
“I was disappointed but I cannot be angry over something which already happened. I again saved up and bought a mountain bike from a man who was selling his property in order to leave the country. I found him on Facebook and after negotiating with him; he agreed to sell the bike to me for N$2 000,” he said.
“The tyres were old but with time I managed to replace them. I really enjoy my bike as it can take me anywhere. I even use it on gravel, it just works fine.
It is not like those bicycles we grew up riding in the north. They are very strong and people in the north use them until this day to transport goods. But it is not an ideal bicycle for riding to work fast.”
Augustinus said that on his off day, he cycles the Daan Viljoen road. “My shifts are unpredictable but when I am off, I train intensively as I would like to take part in the Tour de Windhoek cycling competition. From work in Eros, I cycle to my friend's gym at his house in Grysblock, where I work on my upper and lower body strength. I am very fit I tell you. I have been cycling for years. If I find you on the street, I might even overtake you with my bike,” he said giggling.
“I am sure my bike will not die on me before I take part in the tournament. I just need to find the registration fees,” he said.
The registration fee to take part in the Tour de Windhoek is about N$2 300.
Augustinus, who is affectionately known as Sacky, is a huge fan of the late cycling sensation Costa Seibeb, who died in a car crash this year.
“I used to meet Seibeb in my neighbourhood. He promised that he will help me with my cycling, he really passed away at a time I needed him the most,” he said.
“If an opportunity arises for me to cycle in a local competition, I would do it not for the money, but to leave behind a legacy which my daughters can follow. I am not getting young; my children look up to me. This is a dream I had for years and I want to teach my daughters that they can achieve anything if they put their minds to it. No matter the situation they grow up in. They can do it.”
LIMBA MUPETAMI
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