Imran Akuji - R.I.P.

On Sunday 20th of February at around 11:30am Imran Akuji was hit by a car near the Umbeluzi water pumping station along the Boane road while he was on his bicycle. He died instantly. The oncomming car was overtaking a line of other vehicles at high speed and veered onto the yellow line of the opposite side, hitting Imran and almost taking out the fruit sellers along the road. The driver is in custody, though I have no more information about him.

We lose a friend, a cyclist, the organiser of the Copa Ciclismo races and the Clube de Ciclismo de Moçambique, President of the Mozambican Cycling Federation as well as a member of the cycling team for the upcomming African Games. Imran leaves behind a wife and three children. His eldest son was with him on that day, following in the support vehicle together with some other cyclists who had taken part earlier in the Namaacha time trial. A lot of us were with Imran a scant two hours before the accident. Known to cyclists affectinately as "UCI", he was with us at the top of Namaacha, catching our breath, tallying our times and commenting on our effort. At 36 years of age he was still a competitive cyclist. He seemed calm that day, trying to keep order amongst the petty bickering that was going on, inwardly probably satisfied at the turnout and the fact that a record had been broken, sign that the cyclists that were part of the Africa Games team were getting better. His young son Yazid finally managed to finish the tough race, a 17km climb that can bring down many a stronger man.

His wife said to us cyclists, as we filed past his body later last night, that cycling in Mozambique mustn't die with Imran. I found it incredible that she could find such strength to utter these words of encouragmenet to us, but she obviously understood what a central part in Imran's life cycling had been, that he should dedicate every spare moment to training, organising, and racing.

Later that evening at the funeral his son asked us with a bewildered face "who is going to remind me to use the small ring when I'm pedalling into the wind...??". It is amazing how one stupid and inconsiderate act can have such a devastating impact on families, people, as well as the cycling community.

We may not have always agreed with Imran, as his strong ideas and competitive spirit clashed with other strong personalities in the cycling fraternity. Nor was racing against him an easy task, as he would use his considerable experience to the fullest in chasing you down the line. Such is cycling and competition. However his testament isn't his own cycling (once winner of the Copa Ciclismo, amongst other palmarés) but the fact that he almost singlehandedly managed to keep competitive cycling alive over the past five years, organising events, creating the Moz Cycling Federation as well as selecting the first ever national side for the upcoming African Games. Let's hope all this was not in vain, that we as cyclists can keep up the momentum.

Rest in peace.

Imran shortly before the accident - Photo by Miguel Duarte

Article on Imran Akuji

N.B. - The Cycling Club will organise a small ceremony to visit the scene of the accident and leave some flowers sometime during this coming week - details will be posted as soon as available.