Bricks bows out of world champs

Despite putting up a fight, Sphamandla “Bricks” Ngubane has returned from Bulgaria after being eliminated in the early stages of the Kyokushin Karate World Championships.
The Tongaat resident left for the competition at the beginning of October and enjoyed his time in Europe.
“The tournament was really hectic, there were 52 countries competing and 28 athletes in my weight division,” said Bricks. He fought in the over 95 kilogram category.
Each round was an elimination fight, so competitors had to put everything on the line.
“I won the first two fights, against a guy from Iraq and a fighter from Turkey,” he said.
Bricks could not overcome his next fight and was beaten by a Russian competitor who won the fight on a points difference.
“Those guys do not feel pain,” said Bricks with a smile.
Bricks believes that South African athletes will always struggle at such competitions as the international competitors are all professionals.
“The guys from Europe are doing it professionally and train all day so we find it very difficult to meet the standard,” he said.
Along with his sensei and friend, Thami Mthetwa, Bricks aims to help younger fighters train professionally so that they can make the best of the opportunities they are given.
“We are finished for the year but we will soon begin preparing a team for the British Open which is late next year,” he said.