MAHIKENG MAIL - KWA ZULU-NATAL - North-West University’s (NWU) Mahikeng Campus bodybuilding team, which competed in the South African International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) Championships from 1 - 3 August in KwaZulu-Natal, saw impressive performances from NWU athletes, with six out of the ten participants securing top six finishes in their respective categories.
Rusmore Verah emerged as a standout, clinching 1st place and the overall title in the Men’s Physique Over 178cm category. His victory marks a significant achievement in his bodybuilding career.
Other notable placements included Kevin Pandeka, who finished 5th in the Men’s Physique Over 178cm category, and Simon Maloka, who secured 6th place in the Men’s Physique Under 178cm category.
In the Classic Bodybuilding Under 175cm division, Xolile Kota achieved 3rd place, while Learny Mokgalaka placed 4th in the Classic Physique Under 175cm category. Mokgalaka also competed in the Junior Bodybuilding Under 20 years category, finishing in 4th place.
The Junior Bikini Under 23 years category saw strong performances from Nomthandazo Galate and Trish Mudzingwa, who finished 3rd and 4th, respectively.
Coach Tshepo Baloyi expressed pride in the team’s performance, noting the dedication and hard work that led to their success. “All the hard work paid off. Now it’s time to rest, reset, and recover before we start training for the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Championships. We know our strengths and weaknesses, and we plan to work on both after we rest, because rest is as important as training,” he commented.
This event is the flagship bodybuilding competition of the year in South Africa, and athletes were selected at provincial and regional levels. The championships determine the South African team that will compete in the IFBB Men’s International World Championships in Kish Islands, the Women’s World Championships in Tokyo, and the IFBB Fitness Challenge World Championships in Spain later this year.
Athletes will receive individual emails regarding international qualifications.
The achievements at the national championships highlight the athletes’ commitment and the effective guidance of their coach. The team looks forward to building on their success as they prepare for future competitions.
