×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

'Bodybuilding is growing as a sport'

"Sport is about discipline, it’s about focus and certainly fitness. We need to have a nation that is healthy and that is focused on achieving excellence, especially for young people"

Bodies sculptured and toned to titanic proportions were on show at the Gauteng-North Novice Show 2012 held at the Pretoria Hall in Tshwane recently.

The bodybuilding competition, open to novice male and female athletes, was the second in a series of competitions that will take place across the country, and was attended by luminaries including Tshwane regional head in the Local and Housing Department, Thabani Mncwango.
 
The competition, which will culminate with the Provincial competitions later in the year where the national teams will be chosen, gives both amateur and professional bodybuilders an unparallel opportunity to be part of the internationally recognized contests.
 
“This is a step in the right direction for our athletes,” said Body Building SA and IFBB National Executive Marketing/Public Relations, Wayne Price.

“The events that take place this time of the year is our development phase and is very crucial because it is the seed-planting for our future champions. We have in the past year been able to accredit three new athletes as Pro-League Athletes, and that is just purely because of their overseas accomplishments,” Price added.
 
With a demeanour charged with passion and excitement, winner in the Seniors under 65kg, Lushen Naraunsamy, described bodybuilding as the hardest sporting code, saying it is not only about what happens in the gym but also outside.

Clutching the statuette in his firm grip, Naraunsamy explained: “Through the journey of getting ready for the competition there was none of the good life, but the moment you step on stage it makes every part of that journey so worth it”.
 
Invited guest, Thabani Mncwango, applauded the competition adding that the sport needs to be further expanded so more people can participate.

“If you consider the role that sports plays in society, it is about discipline, it’s about focus and certainly fitness. We need to have a nation that is healthy and that is focused on achieving excellence, especially for young people,” he said.
 
Winner in the Seniors Under 70kg final, Albert Ntamane, as well as his runner-up Katlego Moraluki, said support in the sport is imperative as they would not have come this far without it.

“It is quite a struggle because at first you must fight for yourself without much support, also because the sport is not yet known in SA but it is still growing, so we’ll get there slowly but surely," said Ntamane.

He adds: “By winning here we motivate particularly kids in the townships to be part of such competitions”.
 
“It takes a whole lot of self-discipline and dedication,” Moraluki said and further adds that one the problems faced by young athletes from the townships is that many are not aware of such competitions.
 
“You have to do it for the love of the sport,” they both concluded, “We’re preparing to go big, so we’re still fighting our way to the top,” said Ntamane.
 
Adding that it is up to the relevant authorities in sports to ensure continued and sustained support for this platform of sport, Mncwango said he had a lot of hope that bodybuilding will continue to grow and bring people together.
 
Price announced that they want to open the stage to far more potential athletes and opportunity for athletes by bringing in Kids Fit and the wheelchair division later this year.

“Bodybuilding is on the way up,” he said.
 

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.