One of Namibia’s rising cycling talents, Petrus Hanga, traces his journey back to a simple beginning, a second-hand BMX bicycle gifted to him by his parents, which he rode through the dusty streets of Oshitenda in Windhoek.
Now 21, Hanga, whose parents are originally from the Ohangwena region, has transformed that childhood passion into a promising career.
What started as casual rides has evolved into an opportunity on the global stage after he secured a place in the International Cycling Union (ICU) Solidarity Programme earlier this year.
The programme, linked to the World Cycling Centre (WCC) satellite network in Cape Town, South Africa, supports athletes from developing cycling nations by providing equipment, training and development opportunities. As part of this initiative, Hanga recently attended a training camp in South Africa.
His interest in competitive cycling grew when he and his friends watched the Nedbank Windhoek Pedal Power Series. Inspired, he would ride behind participants on his steel bicycle. It was during this time that members of the Namibia Cleaning Chemical Solutions (NCCS) Pro Cycling Team noticed his determination and invited him to join.
Starting out was not easy, as he lacked proper equipment. However, his breakthrough came when Lotto Petrus from the NCCS team helped him acquire his first professional racing bicycle. The team has since rebranded to Barloworld Cymot Racing Team, where Hanga refined his skills and developed into a competitive rider.
Receiving the ICU sponsorship marked a turning point in his career. Since 2022, he has competed locally and expanded internationally, racing in Angola, Botswana and Eswatini.
Among his notable achievements is winning the under-23 MTN Kemani 2024 race in Eswatini. He also secured two third-place finishes in Jwaneng, Botswana. Locally, he placed second in the Nedbank Individual Time Trial Championships (U23) and finished sixth in the Nedbank Namibia Road Race Championships (U23).
Hanga credits local competitions such as the Nedbank Desert Dash, Nedbank National XCM, and Nedbank Windhoek Pedal Power Series for shaping his abilities.
“We have massive talent in Namibia, and the local races help me judge 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 shape our talents,” he said.
Looking ahead, he has ambitious goals of representing Namibia at major international competitions, including the Olympic Games, All Africa Games, and Commonwealth Games.
His coach and manager, Petrus, believes Hanga’s potential is limitless, noting that his raw talent was evident from the first time he saw him ride.
Nedbank Namibia’s communications and public relations manager, Selma Kaulinge, reaffirmed the bank’s long-standing commitment to cycling.
“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.
She added that Hanga is among many young Namibians benefiting from this support.