Over a hundred athletes are expected to strut their stuff at the 2018 OR Tambo Southern Africa Bodybuilding Championships & Marathon Aerobics at the Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha on Saturday.
The bodybuilding extravaganza is the brainchild of KM Sports Promotions and Events Company and is hosted in partnership with the provincial Department of Sport, OR Tambo District Municipality, and Walter Sisulu University, and it will consist of two programmes.
IFBB Pro Bodybuilder, Mdu Green, who’s won Mr KwaZulu-Natal on numerous occasions, Awonke Mngoma, also a pro with IFBB, and Muzi Maluleke from Pretoria, who last claimed the overall win in the IFBB Buffalo City All-Africa Arnold Classic 2017 Qualifier, are among the many world-class athletes who have confirmed that they will be competing at Saturday’s contest.
The first activity of the day will be the more physical marathon aerobics, which will begin at 10am and wrap up at 2pm, to be held at the Walter Sisulu University Unitra campus’ Great Hall. Registration for the marathon aerobics will begin at 7am at the same venue.
Then the main event, the Southern Africa OR Tambo Bodybuilding Classic, will begin at the same venue at 5pm.
“Over one hundred athletes have confirmed now, and they are coming from Mozambique, top athletes from Johannesburg - in fact from all over the country.
“And they’re look strong and beautiful, and there’s quite a sizeable number of people who are coming to see the show and the town of Mthatha for the first time – which will also contribute to tourism,” founder of the event and KM Sports promotion executive director Kaya Majeke told the Dispatch.
Majeke said they had entertainment lined up for the event and were moving fast at the various outlets in Mthatha.
“People can get their tickets at the Mthatha Health Club, Savoy Hotel and also at the door at a fee of R150.
“In terms of the state of our readiness, we are ready to deliver the aerobics marathon in memory of Mama Albertina Sisulu.”
The winning athletes will qualify for the 2019 Arnold Classic Africa set to held in Johannesburg in May.
“We’ve also got a majority of athletes that will be representing South Africa at a global age – they will be featuring in the competition.
“And some of them are leaving next week for Spain, Romania, Ecuador, and other countries in Europe. So most of those will be featuring in this show and people should come and support those guys.
“And we expect these athletes to show the local people the quality of the sport, because at times people don’t get an opportunity or privilege to see the best of the best at their door step.
“Plus we have to show the world that this province has towns with national key points, as our former statesman Tata Nelson Mandela is born here.”
Majeke added: “For instance Muzi Maluleke is a scientist by profession, and he is working at a High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria, and he is also linked to Banyana Banyana as a strength and conditioning coach.”..