Hanga aims for the stars
One of Namibia's most promising young cyclists, Petrus Hanga, says his cycling journey began many years ago when his parents bought him a second-hand BMX bicycle, which he rode on the dusty streets of Oshitenda in Windhoek.
Born 21 years ago in Windhoek to parents originally from the Ohangwena Region, Hanga never imagined that his love for a BMX bicycle would lead to him receiving one of the world’s most prestigious cycling development opportunities — the International Cycling Union (UCI) Solidarity Programme.
He received the sponsorship earlier this year, which saw him travel to South Africa for a training camp earlier this month. The programme is run in conjunction with the World Cycling Centre (WCC) satellite network in Cape Town. Its support is designed to foster development, provide equipment, and facilitate training for riders in nations where cycling infrastructure is still growing.
Hanga said: “Growing up, I had a BMX bike, which I rode around the streets of my location in Windhoek. I never knew that cycling was a sport or that one day it would change my life the way it has.”
As a youngster, he would watch the Nedbank Windhoek Pedal Power Series with friends from his neighbourhood. Afterwards, he would ride his steel bike, following the racers. It was during this time that he was spotted by the Namibia Cleaning Chemical Solutions (NCCS) Pro Cycling Team, whose managers and riders asked if he wanted to join after recognising his hunger for the sport.
Although the early days were tough due to a lack of proper equipment, Hanga persevered until Lotto Petrus of the NCCS Pro Cycling Team helped secure his first professional racing bike. The team has since rebranded to Barloworld Cymot Racing Team.
This marked a turning point, where he honed his skills and developed into the cyclist he is today.
Hanga says receiving the sponsorship earlier this year was the best news of his life, as it will help him develop into a world-class cyclist. He has competed locally since 2022 and has recently raced internationally in Angola, Botswana, and Eswatini.
One of his biggest career milestones came when he won the Under-23 MTN Kemani 2024 race in Eswatini. He also claimed third place twice in Jwaneng, Botswana. Locally, he recently finished second in the Nedbank Individual Time Trial Championships (U23) and sixth in the U23 Nedbank Namibia Road Race Championships.
He added that local competitions such as the Nedbank Desert Dash, Nedbank National XCM, and the Nedbank Windhoek Pedal Power Series have shaped him into the rider he is today.
“We have massive talent in Namibia, and the local races help me measure how good I am here before I even think of competing internationally. I, together with other riders, am indebted to Nedbank Namibia for providing us with such great opportunities to develop our talent,” he said.
He noted that local races provide opportunities to put into practice what they train for daily, assess progress as developing cyclists, and learn from more experienced riders.
When asked about his training regime, Hanga said he trains on the road three to four times a week, combining endurance rides with short intervals of speed and sprint work.
Representing Namibia at major international events such as the Olympic Games, All Africa Games, and Commonwealth Games forms part of his long-term ambitions.
His manager and coach, Petrus, said he recognised Hanga’s raw talent the moment he saw him on a bike, adding that the sky is the limit if he makes full use of the opportunity provided by the UCI to learn from top coaches in Cape Town.
Nedbank Namibia’s Communications and PR Manager, Selma Kaulinge, said that as “money experts who do good”, supporting sport with purpose has always been central to the bank’s values.
“This is one of the reasons we have supported cycling for the past 40 years. When we support cycling, we do so with the intention of changing lives. Stories like this allow us, as a bank, to pause and reflect on our return on investment — measured one cyclist at a time,” she said.
Kaulinge added that Hanga joins a growing list of Namibian youth who have benefitted from Nedbank Namibia’s long-standing support, using the opportunity to improve their lives both on and off the bike.
“We wish him every success in Cape Town as he has the chance to learn from some of the world’s top cycling coaches and engage with elite cycling talent.”
In line with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, the UCI Solidarity Programme supports federations in their growth through training, knowledge transfer, and equipment allocation, promoting sustainable and inclusive development of cycling at all levels.
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