SANDILE Sibiya, a bodybuilder from Mandeni, took part in the International Federation of Bodybuilding KZN Provincials competition in Durban recently.
Sibiya secured fourth place qualifying to go through to the next round which will be the SA Bodybuilding Championships from 2 September to 4 September in Durban.
He says he is living his dream by training youngsters to become bodybuilders.
“I’m very passionate about training people. We formed a team called the Mandeni Bodybuilding Team, which comprises eight members. We are still recruiting because we wish to teach more people about bodybuilding.”
He said his teammates also participated in two competitions earlier this year, which makes him proud as the team’s coach and head trainer.
Sibiya got involved with bodybuilding at the age of 11 saying that getting rid of his “lean” body was one of the reasons he took up the sport.
“Another thing that led to me becoming a body builder was that my neighbour used to lift weights and I would look through his magazines. He had tons of Flex magazine and I would look through them and eventually fell in love with the sport,” he said.
He currently uses the Sundumbili SAPS gym to train five to six days every week for two hours each morning.
Sibiya says to become a bodybuilder one has to be passionate about the sport, and be in love with it. He said commitment and discipline are the key traits to possess if one wishes to master the sport.
“You have to treat your body right - no alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs - you have to treat your body like God’s temple,” said Sibiya.
Sibiya thanks his sponsor, the owner of IPSS, Dylan Meyrick.
“I just want to thank him and his family for all they have done for
me. I really appreciate it and wish God will bless them abundantly,” he said.
Sibiya will take part in a national bodybuilding competition and says he is ready to lift Mandeni’s name at the event.
