#FridayProfile Riaan Manser and Fanafikile Lehakha on The Odyssey Row

9 November 2018 3:32 PM

Qwa Qwa born and Soweto based adventurer Fanafikile Lehakha will be joining pioneering explorer Riaan Manser on The Odyssey Row this month.

Lehaka was one of 15,000 applicants looking to take on the difficult task of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean.

After 5 days of boot camp in Langebaan with daily grueling challenges Lehakha was selected to row with Manser for nearly 45 days, starting 19 November.

They joined Azania Mosaka in studio to talk about some of the preparation going into the event.

Fana has got the right attitude, that's the first start.
— Riaan Menser, adventurer

He can't swim that well, that is not a deal breaker because he can manage but he is not confident. Ryk Neethling has kindly agreed to coach him.
— Riaan Menser, adventurer

Speaking about the challenges during the selection process, Lehaka says it was a learning experience.

I had never done any water sport so I went there to learn. Every challenge they gave us, for me it was a learning opportunity.
— Fanafikile Lehakha, adventurer

So I had a great time. In fact I was looking forward to the challenge. Take into consideration the ocean, that is what it is going to be like everyday so if I change my mood depending on what the storm is like, then that is not the person that Riaan would want to row with. I need to be constant regardless of what happens.
— Fanafikile Lehakha, adventurer

Click on the link below to listen to the full conversation...

Written by: Neo Koza