Siyanqoba Community Sports Development

Siyanqoba Community Sports Development is an organisation that seeks to empower underprivileged young people in Nelson Mandela Bay (Gqeberha, Kariega and Despatch) through recreational and competitive sports. Zamuxolo “Yster” Xatasi (a former local football star) and his committee started Siyanqoba (which means “to conquer”) in January 2009 with just 15 members. Xatasi, 57, is the Eastern Cape Cycling president. He has also received an award as the best sport administrator in the Eastern Cape at the Premier Achievers Sport Awards. Born in New Brighton, Xatasi is also the founder member and the chairman of Siyanqoba Community Sports Development, which was established in 2009. On the future of cycling, he said: “We have to meet with the Department of Education to recognise cycling as a sport code in schools. At the moment cycling is not part of the sports that are on the schools calendar. “As the government preaches school sport, cycling must also be part of the list of sports at schools,” Xatasi said. His other objective is to see every child taking part in cycling. “My focus will be on rural areas – black, coloured and white disadvantaged areas.