Joburg south champions gears up for African Championships in Newcastle
After dominating at the Gauteng Championships, the fighters are now ready to put Joburg south on the map as they set their sights on the South African Championship.
Seven fighters from Alive and Kickboxing showcased their skills at the Gauteng Championships from February 22 to 25 at John Marble Hall in Benoni.
Their impressive performances secured multiple podium finishes and earned spots at the South African Championships in Newcastle from April 26 to 29.
All seven competitors delivered outstanding performances, with each podium finisher securing their qualification for nationals. They are: Katie Valla (32) – silver U74kg, Muhammad Yusuf (18) – gold U60kg, Mikaheel Harwood (17) – gold U67kg, Jeavon Davids (10) – silver U44kg, Muhammed Mulla (18) -gold U60kg, Dehan Calitz (18) – gold U75kg and Yaseen Ismail (18) – silver U73kg.
Training for success
Coach Juante Steyn credited the fighters’ success to their high training standards, with an extra focus on endurance leading up to the competition.
“Our general standard of training is already very high, so all we did was add some road work, running to ensure the fighters have enough stamina to execute their attacks effectively throughout the rounds,” he said.
Steyn highlighted several standout performances, with one fighter delivering an exciting bout.
“Mikaheel fought like a true champion and gave the crowd an entertaining match, scoring clean knee strikes to his opponent’s bloody face.
“The same can be said for all our fighters – they fought their hearts out and made us proud to be part of Alive and Kickboxing.”
A growing club with a bright future
Beyond the individual achievements, Steyn noted the steady growth of the club and the growth of new talent.
“The club is growing every year with new talent joining and achieving amazing goals in a short time. Fighters come and go because of life responsibilities and religious commitments, but we have a strong foundation to work from and growth will always be in the cards.”
The road to nationals
With multiple fighters qualifying for the South African Championships, Steyn emphasised the significance of this achievement.
“It’ is always an honour to represent our province in the nationals, with one goal in mind – to do well at a national level. This is where we can compare our skills with more experienced fighters and even beat them to an opportunity to join the national team and represent our country in international events,” shared Steyn.
Fighters reflect on their battles
Mikahee was pleased with his victory but acknowledged that there is always room for improvement.
“I was satisfied with my performance, but there are still things I need to work on and perfect. I learned a lot from my fight, and I will keep on learning and getting better.
“The biggest challenge was the nerves before the fight, but I believe they help you stay alert and ready for anything. I won gold and this was one of my best fights. There are plenty more amazing fights to come,” said Mikaheel.
Fellow champion Muhammed Mulla emphasised the team’s unity and determination.
“It means the world to qualify for nationals. We trained hard and fought hard to qualify. We all deserved it. We supported each other as fighters, and our supporters were proud of the team’s performances. Everyone showed a lot of determination and skill,” he said.
With their sights now set on the South African Championships in Newcastle, the Alive and Kickboxing team is ready to take their talents to the next level and compete against the best in the country.
