Tupac eyes wheelchair challenge in SA

Namibian wheelchair cyclist Frans ‘Tupac’ Paulus hopes to take part in the 2016 Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC) in George, South Africa, next month. Frans told Namibian Sun that taking part in the competition would be a great opportunity for him to qualify for this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He said he had been at the competition several times before, and in 2011 he ended sixth overall. Paulus overcame close to three years of hospitalisation to return to cycling last year. After his absence in the cycling fraternity, he took part in the Nedbank Cycle Challenge road race, where he competed in the 75km early last year. “I think it is my time to come back and with that competition serving as a qualifying game to the Olympics it is a great opportunity because if I happen to go there I will go with the aim of qualifying for Rio because that is my target for now,” said Paulus. He said he was just waiting for Paralympics Namibia to see if they could help him, as he didn’t have a sponsor yet. He added that Paralympics Namibia was sceptical about his health and requested a doctor’s report. “I started my training last year, and I have approached my doctor about my health and there were some problems about my health between me, my doctor and Paralympics Namibia because since I started training last year, I have been approaching Paralympics Namibia that I am now free and can continue with my sport but they have been denying my comeback saying they cannot really accept me because it has been a while without seeing me,” he said. He added that he then provided Paralympics Namibia with the doctor’s report and informed the institution that he wanted to compete next month. Paulus said he mainly wanted assistance with getting new tyres for his bike. “I know I am struggling financially because I do not even have a sponsor but I know there will be a Samaritan to help me to at least get new tyres for my bike,” he said, adding that he is fit enough for the competition. He said training has not been going that well but he managed to train at least twice a week. “I have only been training Saturday and Sunday because we do not have safe roads where we can train now I only train in the town maybe up to 20km which is not enough, because you have to cover up to 50 km maybe five times a week. “I know I cannot get a new bike but at least get new tyres because buying a new bike is very expensive so at least have new spare parts and I need to have a serious training with a safe road where I have a car to accompany me,” he said. Paralympics Namibia’s secretary-general Mike Hamukwaya said it was not yet clear whether Paulus could take part in the competition as there were a few procedures to be followed. “For this competition we have to sit with the management committee and then a decision will be taken whether Frans will go take part but at the moment there is nothing official as to whether he is going,” he said. KAINO NGHITONGO