Former Dusi Canoe Marathon winner and world renowned canoeist Thulani Mbanjwa has received a major boost in his mission to develop youth through sports.
This after the star’s academy, Thulani Mbanjwa Sport Academy, which is based in Mkhambathini, was sponsored with canoeing equipment worth over R150 000 by Msinsi Resorts and Game Reserves on Saturday.
Mbanjwa, the first black South African to win the Dusi Marathon in 2008, founded the academy in 2018 as a way of giving back to his community and to develop the youth through sports.
Since its inception, the academy that currently has 16 students has struggled to acquire the equipment needed for canoeing. Equipment that was handed over included canoe boats, paddling sticks and life jackets.
This was received with great excitement by Mbanjwa. “I am very grateful for the support that Msinsi Resort and Game Reserves has given me,” he said.
“The academy has been in existence for the past four years, however, due to the costly price of the equipment, we could not operate. This is a great day for the sport and for the young children of the Nagle Dam and Mkhambithini community.”
Msinsi Resorts managing director Mboniseni Dlamini was also happy about the new partnership between the two organisations. “The partnership will assist us in ensuring that we improve awareness on environmental conservation through water sport activities and making uMsinsi a preferred venue for canoe sport,” said Dlamini.
