Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs’ strength and conditioning coach Muzi Maluleke is making headlines after he won the men’s 212 bodybuilding open at The Europa Pro bodybuilding championships in London.
KAIZER CHIEFS’ STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH WINS BIG IN EUROPE
His win over the weekend undoubtedly booked him a spot at this year’s Mr Olympia in Las Vegas next month.
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A post shared by Muzi Maluleke (@muz_monster)
With his win, Muzi Maluleke became the first athlete to qualify in the category in South Africa’s history books. He took to Instagram to thank his coach for his support.
Taking to Instagram, the Kaizer Chiefs’ strength and conditioning coach posted, “Thank you so much, Sir @federicofocherini, for being more than just a coach… uMadala Wami… this one is for you like you always say; silence and solidarity!”
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A post shared by Muzi Maluleke (@muz_monster)
His coach, Focherini, is a bodybuilding master coach based in Kuwait. No doubt his post has since gained thousands of comments and reactions since it dropped.
Many fans and athletes quickly flooded his comment section with congratulatory messages.
However, other South African bodybuilders who competed at The Europa Pro bodybuilding championships include Carel Frederick Grobbler, Julian Lee Ramdhari, and Monique Jansen Van Vuuren.
Grobler settled for ninth in the men’s classic physique, while Ramdhari settled 14th.
Over the years, the bodybuilding contest has been credited with thrusting a host of A-listers into the limelight, including Schwarzenegger.
Before launching his successful career in Hollywood, the seasoned actor had reportedly won seven Mr Olympia titles between 1970 and 1980.
Surprisingly, he won one of the titles in South Africa in 1975 when the contest was held in Pretoria. Will Muzi Maluleke become the next Mr Olympia?
WORKING WITH AMAKHOSI AND OTHER TEAMS
Maluleke is currently the fitness coach of Kaizer Chiefs’ Diski Challenge team. However, he has also worked with senior team during the coaching reigns of Arthur Zwane, Molefi Ntseki and Cavin Johnson.
He joined the Diski Challenge after Kaizer Chiefs’ new coach, Nasreddine Nabi, came with his technical team at the Soweto giants.
However, Muzi Maluleke has worked with many PSL clubs and national teams besides Kaizer Chiefs.
Over the years, Muzi Maluleke has worked with Orlando Pirates, Banyana Banyana, the SA under-17 national team, the Nedbank Ke Yona team, and AmaTuks.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
According to his LinkedIn profile, he has been a strength and conditioning coach for over a decade and a Sports Scientist at the University of Pretoria.
Muzi Maluleke has also worked with the Sport, Exercise, Medicine and Lifestyle Institute.
He holds Fitness Trainer B-License, Sports Studies with Berufsakademie Sachsen/ Staatliche Studienkademie Plauen/ University of Cooperative Education.
He also holds a Strength and Conditioning Diploma from Leipzig University. Muzi Maluleke also holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Sports Science from the University of Pretoria.