A group of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia who have formed a club of cyclists, seeking a sponsor to continue racing. They have already been accepted and recognized by the sports federation in Ethiopia, will soon be competing in Kenya at the continental level. We try to support them with fundraising, if anyone interested in this project please contact us.
Dear Abba Mussie Zerai
Date 03/01/2016
Greetings first!!!
We are Eritrean Refugees CYCLING TEAM based in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. Our team riders were composed of talent Eritrean riders. Currently we
have 12 riders. We dream big for our team in the future. Indeed we are aiming
to become an UCI continental team for 2017. And do races in Africa and other
continents. It Mean that we want to become one of the best team in the world
and compete against the best riders in the world. But more important we want to
develop African cycling, and become the number one African cycling team and
help young African cyclists to become Proffessionals. We want to show to evry
body in the world that African refugee can have a team constitute of African
staff and riders. That Africans are the future of cycling and also of the
sport. As part of our programe we made a lot of internal & few
international races esspecialy in 2016. At this moment we have 12 riders with
having 8 modern road bikes. That means that we are urging to search some governmental
or NGO’s that helps us to donate 4 road bikes having a 52 & 54 sizes to
challenge the current problem which is facing us.
1. What national and international competitions are
you scheduled to participate in and what is the schedule?
Firstly I would like
to express my gratitude for being interested in our team. And in the name of
all who struggle to survivie we wish you all the best for the coming year 2017.
To get back to your question our club came in to existence on February 2015. At
that time we could have completed in the Tour Dedebeit held in Ethiopia but we
had a 100% shortcoming and few members of the team competed in the mountain
bike competitions. Our team finished the year of 2015 without participating in
major races in Ethiopia. In the year 2016 we made major progress. At the
beginning of the year the team still had problems but we managed to compete in
March and the outcome was encouraging. In the following championship races one
of our cyclists, Daniel Teklay finished first on two occasions and second in
the individual time trial race. In addition to this our team finished second in
the team time trial of the Addis Ababa annual cycling championship. After this
we have tried to keep contact with several federations from all over the world
in order to participate internationally through facebook and email address. And
we were invited in many races. Since we were not able to acquire the passport
on time we didn’t participated. But this year we will compete in many these
races.
2. What is the training plan for the riders? Do you
have a daily, weekly or monthly plan you can tel me about or show me?
We train
regularly and produce weekly training plans. For instance after Sunday
competition, the team trains an easy 60 km training in Monday. Tuesday’s
training is longer and covers a 140 km with slopes in order to activate
indurance. On Wednesday the team trains in a 40 km speed training and make sure
the trainins is finished in less than an hour. On Thursday the cyclists train
in a 120 to 140 km where they pedal normal. On this training they pedal around
25 km/hr. They reset on Friday. To relax their muscles they train for 50 km on
Saturday. Then we enter the Sunday competition. Our training is not for tours.
When training for tours to increase indurance, ti up to 200 km daily.
3. Where do the riders live? How do they make a
living? Do they need to work on jobs other than riding?
We are located in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia. For accommodation as a team we manage from the little
remittance we get from family and relatives and live together. Our cyclists are
aged between 18 and 24 and have a vision and talent to develop and compete as
professionals. In order to stay healthy and strong, they don’t work any other
job. After training they have ample time for rest.
4. Which organization or agency held your team and
who finances you? We don’t have governmental or non-governmental sponsors.
As I
have mentioned above, the team is supported families and relatives in diaspora
of the cyclists. An amount of less than three thousand dollars was donated by
Eritreans humanitarian group in America. We expend this money to buy the team’s
jersey and one road bike for the talent cyclist Daniel Teklay. It took us for
months to finally hold the refugee passport from UNHCR. This is one of the main
problems that impeded us from participating in international races in 2016.
5. Are you in connection with other pro teams and
associations over Africa and the world? Is there any cooperation between you?
We have. We have committee for public relations. This committee’s work is to
contact both national and international federations of cycling competitions and
interact with professional and amateur team to share experience. As a result,
we have received 9 invitations which we should have participated. Because we
were granted the passport later we were not able to participate. Now that we
have our passport we will participate in international competitions from
beginning of the coming year. In April we have two international races and that
is The Tour of Togo & Tour of Gila (USA). In May and June we will compete
in Tour of BEUACHE & Tour of Sagunay (Canada) respectively. We have many
other invitations from Africa, Asia & South American nations. And we ask
you politely to help us and make contacts with the organizations of the Tour of
ARAD Israel.
6. What nationalities do you have on your team?
So
far our club is comprised of Eritrean refugee and members only. However, many
African brothers and cyclists have asked to join in. in due time, after solving
our financial problems, we plan to add cyclists in Israel and others in Africa
and Europe who compete individually. As yet, Filimon Gebregziabihier has come
from Israel and joined the club’s competition. Our door is open to any talented
with our any prejudice of origin.
7. Do young refugees riders, kids and adolescents
have an opportunity to start riding professionally?
In order to achieve your
aim what you need is to start up. Because we had started with a clear vision,
our club was able to own gears and jersies and competed in relatively good
races. Our future plans are to upgrade into professional team and we have no
doubts this will be possible. These refugees with clear vision and practical
work can reach professional stage definitely. The gold medalist Eritrean-Dutch
in Rio-Brasil Para Olympic is one example of this.
8. What is the situation of
the pro riders in Eritrea?
Cycling in Eritrea passes through many impediments.
These cyclists who compete in the ground tour are not because of their talents
and excellence. Many of the talented cyclists are seattered all of the world,
this gave the few remaining to win. Another reason many talented leave to do
their national service. And this is hard to swallow for these talented
cyclists. However, one way or another, cycling can be described as the 10th
ethnicity group and 3rd religion in our country. Even our mothers use them on
daily basis. It is given as a gift to a child and ride it to and from school
from a young age. It is for this reason that Eritrea from the whole Africa
comes first raising a number of amateur and professional cyclist and the
stronges teams.
Our trainer! (MEWAEL MEHANSHO) HEAD COACH OF AFRICA
REFFUGEE CYCLING TEAM
He was born in 1979 in a place called Demsebay. He
learned his elementary, Junior and secondary education in asmara. In 1994 he
joined the N.U.E.Y.S. with the mountain bike competition. In 1997, after he finished
his high school education, he left for Sawa to enlist in the 7th round military
training. From 1998 to the day he stepped down from the saddle of a bicycle he
competed with teams like Barako and Zula. Under the umbrella of N.U.E.Y.S,
Mewael played a great role in remodeling and developing mountain bike and
giving birth to most of the cyclists that are competing internationally. He was
an exceptional citizen who worked as a trainer for clubs such as Keih Bahri and
Debubawi Keih Bahri Zone and introduced tour Eritrea Mountain Bike in 2007. In
the four tours that have been done, he is the only youth that has cycled the
whole country. From 2003 he dedicated his life in promoting through mass media
and published a book titled “Cycling Competition in Eritrea, 1936-2011” that
describes the history of cycling in Eritrea. As a result of all his devotion
and hard work to improve cycling in Eritrea, he has been promoted to technical
manager of the national cycling federation. Mr. Mewael Mehansho, curently the coach
for the Africa reffugee cycling team that has been based in Addis ababa capital
of Ethiopia, is certified with the 'level 1 UCI cycling coaching lesson'. and
he just left Eritrea 22 months ago. And he founded the team to offer
opportunities for the promissing Eritrean riders who are fleeing out of the
country for different reasons and became refugees in Ethiopia. Africa Reffugee
cycling Team This team is founded by the former Eritrean technical manager of
the Eritrean national cycling federation, Mr. Mewael mehansho, curently the
coach for the team that has been based in addis ababa capital of Ethiopia. The
team comprises a group of individuals which consists both cyclists and members
of the technical and official sector of the club. The main purpose of the club
is to create a foundation for all African refugees, including Eritrean refugees
living in Ethiopia, where the cyclists can demonstrate their skills and share
experience. In addition, to change the fate these cyclists which is basically
crossing borders illegally, the Sahara and the mediteranean sea like so many
refugees, endangering their lives to the point of death. At this moment the
club is launched by a group of 12 refugees having 8 road bikes. And made
necessary talks to Eritrean cyclist located in different parts of the world.
Finhace Micheal from USA, Senay Tsegay from Uganda and we already joined Filmon
Gebregiorgis from Israel. The future plans of Africa Refugee Cycling Team has
plans to participate in both continental and international competition to find
permanent solution to all its preliminary difficulty. And we would like to
convey our deepest gratitude to all the countries which invited us to
participate in different competitions and we promise to try putting into
consideration our budget. Our finance will also decide our future programs in
including our African refugee brothers who have requested in joining our club.
But we beleive financial shortcoming will not overcome our efforts and
deligence. In the near future our club will join some talented cyclists from
different refugee camps.
Technical & Management Personnel:
1. Mewael Mehansho Sereke, Head Coach Coach
2. Michael Tesfazghi Gebregziabihier, Team Coach
3. Birikti Kalaab BerhaneMeskel (Team Physician)
4. Natsinet Tesfamariam Mehari (Public realations)
Mechanics
5. Medhanie Andemariam Gebregergish
6. Merhawi Mebrahtu Gebrekiristos
12 Cyclists:
1. Daniel Teklay Gebrekiristos
2. Yohannes Eyob Yosief
3. Mehari Haile Gebreselasie
4. Merhawi Tesfalem Menameno
5. Natnael Haile Okbay
6. Sirak Yohannes BieDemariam
7. Michael Nuguse Bekuredngil
8. Bienhur Fetsum Abraha
9. Yonas Afewerki TewoldeBrhan
10. Filimon Gebregziabiher Gebregergish
11. Mussie Ghirmay Kibreab
12. Amanuel Wolday Mihtsun
Africa Refugees cycling Team,
Adiss Ababa, Ethiopia.,
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