Zimatha Lodge injects K2m towards 2023 Luwawa Mountain Cycling Race

Cycling athletes have all reasons to smile following Zimatha Lodge and Restaurant’s injecting of K2 million towards this year’s 53 kilometre, Luwawa International Mountain Bike Race scheduled to take place on 17th June in the South Viphya Forest Reserve in Mzimba district.

The Luwawa International Mountain Bike Race is a big relief to cycling athletes in the country because it is the only competitive race appearing on this year cycling calender

Speaking in an interview on the support, Zimatha Lodge managing director Jeffry Daisoni said they consider cycling as equally an important sporting discipline that deserves corporate support just like any other sports disciplines.

Daisoni said owning a number of companies including Zimatha Timbers and Transport services apart from the lodge, they have opted to associate their businesses with the cycling sport in particular Luwawa Mountain Bike Cycling race as they portray a good image on the market.

“We have the responsibility to giveback to the community through which we operate our businesses. We have a lodge in Lilongwe situated along Likuni Road apart from other companies that we want to market using the cycling sport,”said Daisoni.

He added that they will continue supporting cycling race once they are impressed with the prudent management of finances.

“We believe in good governance, once we are impressed with how they have managed the funds we have injected, automatically we will continue the sponsorship. We may return in a bigger way in the next edition. Our call is to public to equally patronize our lodge in Lilongwe,” said Daisoni.

“We are glad that we have local sponsor by the name of Zimatha Lodge this time around. That said, I can confirm that Luwawa Mountain Bike cycling race is on this year with lucrative top prize of K250 000 for the champions in each category. We expect the big hype we always get where both local and international cyclists took part in the race,” said Luwawa race coordinator George Wardlow who is also Luwawa Forest Lodge managing director.

Meanwhile, bookings for participation are underway and will close on June 7.

The Cycling Federation of Malawi (CFM) president, Malumbo Mkandawire said the absence of competitive race reduces athlete’s concentration on the sport and it is good that Zimatha Lodge in Lilongwe has come in to sponsor the race.

“We are glad that Luwawa race is on. This is very good development considering that few come to sponsor cycling competition in the country which helps cyclists to remain committed to the sport,” he said.

Mzuzu Cycling Club dominated the previous edition of Luwawa Cycling Race that took place in July last year through Blessings Kumwenda in men and Wezzie Chimaliro in the ladies category

Kumwenda emerged champion among the 70 male cyclists having completed the 53 kilometer race in 2 hours and 10 minutes where as Chamaliro dominated the ladies category covering the same distance but in 4 hours

Speaking in an interview on the upcoming this year event on June 17, Kumwenda said he is training hard to defend the title.

“First of all, I would say that I love the sport and I train every day so that I should sustain my shape. I have added the training coverage distance so that I should reclaim the title,” he said.

According to the organisers of the race, the K2 million package will cater for prizes of the winners.

On the other hand, Chimaliro said with the lucrative top prize, she is training hard to scoop the championship.

Steve Nazombe of Blantyre Cycling Club scooped second position in the men category while Loyce Pophiwa of Lilongwe Cycling Club was the runner-up in the ladies category.