When 2008 Junior Gold Cup gold medalist 17 year old Enzo Matthews takes to the road to compete in the Victor Macedo Three stage memorial race this weekend, he will doing so with a new cycle, thanks to the combined efforts of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) and veteran cyclists Wilbert Benjamin and Joseph Faria.
At a short and simple presentation ceremony held at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) headquarters on Church Street, Matthews was presented with the cycle which is valued at US$1,200 by racing secretary of the GCF and national cycling coach Hassan Mohammed in the presence of president of the GCF Hector Edwards and assistant racing secretary Malcolm Sonaram.
According to Mohammed, Matthews competed in the Gold Cup in Trinidad and Tobago with a cycle that was broken in three times for the year, thus the GCF sought the assistance of the two veteran cyclists.
“Enzo is a talented junior cyclist here in Guyana, a talent he displayed when he competed in the gold Cup in Trinidad, even though he was competing with a bike that broke three times already for the year. Therefore, the executives of the GCF had no hesitation in seeking to acquire a new cycle for him, and both Benjamin and Faria answered the call” said Mohammed.
“In Trinidad, Matthews did five laps through rain that was falling from lap one on an eight mile circuit, covering a distance of 40 miles to secure the gold, and he did so navigating potholes along with the rain.”
Benjamin who is the proprietor of Benjamin Sports Store in Canada, originally hails from the village of Fyrish on the Corentyne coast of Berbice whilst Faria who once competed on the local cycling scene for Kaieteur Cycle Club, is also a resident of Canada.
In an invited comment, Matthews who had to outsprint another Trinidadian in 21 year old Jovan Gomez to come away with the gold medal told Stabroek Sports that he intends to improve his performances on the local cycling scene. “I don’t have to be riding and studying whether or not my frame will break as even though such can occur at anytime, I do know for sure that it will not be so in a long time with this new bike, as I will be looking to improve my performances on the local scene, beginning with the meets that are planned for this weekend.”
Following the completion of the second annual HIV/AIDS Awareness five stage meet which commenced last year, Matthews, Geron Williams, Christopher Holder, Christopher Persaud and Danny Ramchurgee along with a manager and coach will depart for Cayenne where they will be representing Guyana at the Inter Guiana Games which is set for November.
