It's a wrap, Costa Seibeb
The cycling fraternity said goodbye to one of Namibia's finest cycling sensations, Costa Raul Seibeb, at the weekend.
Cycling sensation Costa Seibeb died in a hospital in Windhoek on 1 May after colliding with a vehicle 40 kilometres outside Aus settlement.
Seibeb was a force to be reckoned with in local cycling as he dominated headlines over the years, winning almost every competition that he took part in on the national cycling calendar.
His many cycling achievements included being crowned Namibia's Road Race Champion in 2014, Namibia's XCO National Champion in 2015, and winner of the 2016 Otjiwa Eagle Ride MTB Challenge. He was the reigning National Cross Country Marathon Champion, which he won in February this year.
The cyclist was competing in the Klein Aus MTB Challenge when the accident happened and, as usual, he was leading in the competition. Many could not believe it when news came that the life of the young athlete had ended so abruptly. There are many unanswered questions as to what happened on that fateful day.
But life as we know it moves on and with it comes a brighter day. In celebration of Seibeb's life, Sport Wrap spoke to some of his friends and family members. Most of them described him as a rough diamond undergoing polishing. Before anyone knew his name, Seibeb roamed the streets of Katutura, playing in the dusty streets like any other young boy. At the age of 16, he started racing with team BEN Namibia. His talent was noticed by the Namibian Cycling Federation. By the time he joined their team, he already knew what was expected of him. Many people took notice of Seibeb's talent. People were also drawn to him because of his bright smile. Michael Linke, managing director of the Bicycling Empowerment Network, said he didn't understand the value of sport in young people's lives until a group of BEN mechanics and their friends proposed starting Team BEN Namibia. “What I learned was that so many Namibian youth are crying out for a chance to show the world what they can do. Some of the guys from our team went on to apply the discipline and focus they learned from training and competing as cyclists to other parts of their lives, like work, study, and relationships.
“In Seibeb's case, he chose to build on his natural talent for cycling and make a career of it. I'm convinced, as are most people who knew him, that he was bound for further greatness in his cycling career, and in his life,” he said.
Linke said Seibeb taught him a lot. “It was the value of giving young people opportunities to be their best. What we gave Costa was very little. A bit of structure for training, some spare parts and bike maintenance. What he gave back through his hard work and dedication, to his country, and to a generation of young cyclists looking for a role model, can't be measured. And he gave it with a smile, always.”
Linke said what Seibeb achieved in his life made a difference to the country and his sport, and it inspired everyone who knew him. “We will always remember him with a smile.”
As his career developed and he rose in the ranks, Nedbank offered him a sponsorship deal and that is where he made a lot of friends who encouraged and supported his career.
At Seibeb's memorial service in Windhoek, Lionel Matthews, managing director of Nedbank, said his death was a great loss to the cycling community. “I told his mother the other day that her son was a champion and will remain so for as long as the history of Namibian cycling will remember him.”
“The formal relationship with Costa and Nedbank started in October 2015, but his sheer cycling talent lit up Namibia's oldest competitive cycling race, the Nedbank Cycle Challenge, long before we had the honour of seeing him race in Nedbank colours,” said Matthews.
Fighting back tears, Matthews said the sport of cycling had been searching for a local hero like Seibeb for years. “He was supremely talented, confident, assured and always carried a smile which was completely disarming and infectious at the same time. He had come through the ranks steadily and once he entered the competitive cycling scene, he became a hero for youngsters who would never have given cycling a second chance.”
Jerry Ekandjo, the minister of sport, youth and national service, was present to share words of comfort with the family.
“Despite his circumstances, he raised as an elite cyclist. His ambition was to compete in the Olympics next year. His smile made him make friends easily, locally and internationally. The whole ministry is affected by the loss of Seibeb. Like a true champion he reached the finishing line because he never looked back or gave up,” Ekandjo said.
Seibeb had a big influence on young cyclists, who joined the sport because they looked up to him as a role model.
Mox Mbako, a cyclist from PAY, said he started taking part in the sport because of Seibeb. “I used to hang out and train with him a lot. He always gave us tips on how to ride. He is my biggest inspiration and it's a big loss to me as a young athlete because I feel like he could still have helped me a lot in my career. I will miss him very much,” said Mbako.
Seibeb's niece, Mida Seibes, described him as a family man. “Seibeb helped his family a lot. He always fulfilled his promises and wanted to make sure that everyone was cared for. He was raised by his grandmother, that is maybe why he was very warm towards everyone. We cherished him and will feel the gap he has left behind.” Seibeb was laid to rest at the Pionierspark cemetery in Windhoek on Saturday.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
Seibeb was a force to be reckoned with in local cycling as he dominated headlines over the years, winning almost every competition that he took part in on the national cycling calendar.
His many cycling achievements included being crowned Namibia's Road Race Champion in 2014, Namibia's XCO National Champion in 2015, and winner of the 2016 Otjiwa Eagle Ride MTB Challenge. He was the reigning National Cross Country Marathon Champion, which he won in February this year.
The cyclist was competing in the Klein Aus MTB Challenge when the accident happened and, as usual, he was leading in the competition. Many could not believe it when news came that the life of the young athlete had ended so abruptly. There are many unanswered questions as to what happened on that fateful day.
But life as we know it moves on and with it comes a brighter day. In celebration of Seibeb's life, Sport Wrap spoke to some of his friends and family members. Most of them described him as a rough diamond undergoing polishing. Before anyone knew his name, Seibeb roamed the streets of Katutura, playing in the dusty streets like any other young boy. At the age of 16, he started racing with team BEN Namibia. His talent was noticed by the Namibian Cycling Federation. By the time he joined their team, he already knew what was expected of him. Many people took notice of Seibeb's talent. People were also drawn to him because of his bright smile. Michael Linke, managing director of the Bicycling Empowerment Network, said he didn't understand the value of sport in young people's lives until a group of BEN mechanics and their friends proposed starting Team BEN Namibia. “What I learned was that so many Namibian youth are crying out for a chance to show the world what they can do. Some of the guys from our team went on to apply the discipline and focus they learned from training and competing as cyclists to other parts of their lives, like work, study, and relationships.
“In Seibeb's case, he chose to build on his natural talent for cycling and make a career of it. I'm convinced, as are most people who knew him, that he was bound for further greatness in his cycling career, and in his life,” he said.
Linke said Seibeb taught him a lot. “It was the value of giving young people opportunities to be their best. What we gave Costa was very little. A bit of structure for training, some spare parts and bike maintenance. What he gave back through his hard work and dedication, to his country, and to a generation of young cyclists looking for a role model, can't be measured. And he gave it with a smile, always.”
Linke said what Seibeb achieved in his life made a difference to the country and his sport, and it inspired everyone who knew him. “We will always remember him with a smile.”
As his career developed and he rose in the ranks, Nedbank offered him a sponsorship deal and that is where he made a lot of friends who encouraged and supported his career.
At Seibeb's memorial service in Windhoek, Lionel Matthews, managing director of Nedbank, said his death was a great loss to the cycling community. “I told his mother the other day that her son was a champion and will remain so for as long as the history of Namibian cycling will remember him.”
“The formal relationship with Costa and Nedbank started in October 2015, but his sheer cycling talent lit up Namibia's oldest competitive cycling race, the Nedbank Cycle Challenge, long before we had the honour of seeing him race in Nedbank colours,” said Matthews.
Fighting back tears, Matthews said the sport of cycling had been searching for a local hero like Seibeb for years. “He was supremely talented, confident, assured and always carried a smile which was completely disarming and infectious at the same time. He had come through the ranks steadily and once he entered the competitive cycling scene, he became a hero for youngsters who would never have given cycling a second chance.”
Jerry Ekandjo, the minister of sport, youth and national service, was present to share words of comfort with the family.
“Despite his circumstances, he raised as an elite cyclist. His ambition was to compete in the Olympics next year. His smile made him make friends easily, locally and internationally. The whole ministry is affected by the loss of Seibeb. Like a true champion he reached the finishing line because he never looked back or gave up,” Ekandjo said.
Seibeb had a big influence on young cyclists, who joined the sport because they looked up to him as a role model.
Mox Mbako, a cyclist from PAY, said he started taking part in the sport because of Seibeb. “I used to hang out and train with him a lot. He always gave us tips on how to ride. He is my biggest inspiration and it's a big loss to me as a young athlete because I feel like he could still have helped me a lot in my career. I will miss him very much,” said Mbako.
Seibeb's niece, Mida Seibes, described him as a family man. “Seibeb helped his family a lot. He always fulfilled his promises and wanted to make sure that everyone was cared for. He was raised by his grandmother, that is maybe why he was very warm towards everyone. We cherished him and will feel the gap he has left behind.” Seibeb was laid to rest at the Pionierspark cemetery in Windhoek on Saturday.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
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