Three Grahamstown bodybuilders were selected for the South African national team for the UIBBN World Championships in Belgium, which will start on 25 November.
Three Grahamstown bodybuilders were selected for the South African national team for the UIBBN World Championships in Belgium, which will start on 25 November.
Fittingly, Johan Botha, Lesley Sauls, and Ntsikelelo Xalabile’s selections were announced on home soil following solid performances at the South African Natural Bodybuilding Association (Sanba) Championships at Graeme College.
The main award on offer – the overall senior prize – was claimed by Western Province’s Marvin Marinus. Hailing from Elsiesrivier, an area where gangsterism is rife, he defied the odds on Saturday to emerge as the country’s top natural bodybuilder.
Marinus beat Xalabile in the senior middleweight line-up, but Makana nonetheless claimed two major victories: Botha, the chairperson of the Makana Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness Club, won the Master 1 over 75 kg line-up, while Mbongeni Nikani sensationally claimed the Under-21 years, Under-65 kg prize in only his third show.
Nikani was beaten to the overall junior prize by Western Province’s Matthew Parker, while Botha lost the overall masters trophy to Parker’s team-mate, Sebastian Tshangana. Nevertheless, both Grahamstown bodybuilders left the event feeling positive.
Grahamstown did not have representatives in any of the women’s competitions, but local resident and crowd favourite Danie September took part in the non-competitive special category for bodybuilders with disabilities. Sauls described September as “inspirational”, and said that he hoped more disabled community members would start bodybuilding.
Nevertheless, regardless of how much work lies ahead in terms of inclusivity, Saturday’s impressive results suggest that there is no lack of inspiration in Makana bodybuilding at large.
Read the full report in Friday's edition of Grocott's Mail.
