Strong-willed coach leads Montclair residents to fitness
Coach Phil says his passion for sport drives his enthusiasm for fitness.
PASSION and obstinate willpower for fitness has earned enthusiast, Philemon Dhliwayo, the key role of an instructor at the Montclair Sports Grounds.
Affectionately known as coach Phil, the 53-year-old Zimbabwe native can be found at the sports grounds in the morning and afternoons training different sets of groups.
As a former Metro police officer of six years for the Harare Municipality and a bodybuilder, he was able to use his exercise experience to help start the group’s training. The outdoor training began in 2016 after an invite by a group called the Montclair (R)Evolution.
“There was no talk or agreement on compensation, but I was still glad to help as I felt it was an opportunity to further my passion for exercising and fitness. I then decided to do a fitness trainer’s course.”
“This, I felt, was going to help me in dispensing exercises from an informed standpoint and have a better understanding of the human body. The course comprised five modules which include anatomy, physiology, health and safety, small groups training, and client screening.”
A year later, he inherited The Morning Breeze group from another instructor, and thus began his morning sessions. He said he appreciates both groups for being at his aid during level four and five of the lockdown.
Coach Phil’s fitness journey started in 1987 after successfully completing a 40km marathon challenge at the age of 20. He said he is mostly driven by passion than talent in sport which propelled him to try out soccer but admitted that he was pathetic at it. He later found his niche in bodybuilding.
“My first Comrades Marathon run again came as a challenge from friends I was watching the 2011 edition with. I was still doing bodybuilding back then.”
“I took on the challenge and I ran my first Comrades in 2012, I finished with 31 minutes to spare but it was a nightmare of a race.”
“Bulk muscles were clearly a lot for the long haul from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, however, subsequent runs of the Comrades Marathon were much better. I had improved my training with the advice from our club coach as well as my much trimmer body than the previous years.
The eThekwini Athletics Club member added that his most remarkable achievement as an amateur runner is managing eight finishes of the Comrades in consecutive years.
He sited his family as his biggest support system, especially his parents in Zimbabwe who always ask how he faired at races.
He is married and has three daughters, Thandiwe, 25, Eunice, 21, and Tanyaradzwa, 16. As an avid reader, he spends his downtime with his face buried in a book and enjoys his Sundays at church.
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