Illovo funds two cyclists’ trip to SA race

Illovo Sugar Company yesterday fulfilled pledge to sponsor cyclists Mothinia Misolo and Kwame Kaira on their today’s (Friday) trip to Johannesburg, South Africa to participate in the Momentum 94.7 Cycling Challenge this Sunday.

During a ceremony at Illovo office in Blantyre, the company’s national sales manager Peter Mtokale presented K359 000 worth of return airtickets to the two athletes who qualified for the international event for finishing third and fourth, respectively, in last year’s Illovo Classic Cycling Race.

According to Mtokale, they have also provided the cyclists with 3 000 rands (about K120 000) each as allowances and they have booked them accommodation worth the same amount each at a Johannesburg hotel.

“We are proud to be associated with sport because we rely cyclists for the final leg of sugar distribution in the rural areas. I can assure you that this is not the end of our support to cycling. This is the 10th year of sponsoring the sport in the country and we will come back even bigger next year,” he said.

This will be the second time for the two cyclists to represent the country at the South African race. Last year, Misolo took the first position in the category of 325 contestants while Kaira finished second. They crossed the finish line in 2:51:31 hours after being separated by a fraction of a second.

Blantyre Cycling Club president Dyton Chimwaza, whose club organises the Illovo Classic contest, challenged the cyclists not to disappoint at the international event.

On their part, Misolo and Kaira thanked Illovo for the support and promised not only to win the race but also improve on their records.