A united family affair

The United Martial Arts International Benoni Dojo has achieved great success through four of its students.

Don’t mess with the family of Salaamah Mahomed, Ahmad Mahomed, Shihan Aslam Mahomed, Mahmood Mahomed and Taahirah Cajee.

The fantastic four – siblings Salaamah (5), Mahmood (12) and Ahmad (10) Mahomed and their cousin Taahirah Cajee (10) – represented Eastern Gauteng at the South African Kickboxing National Championships held in Durban at the Old Mutual Sports Centre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on April 28, 29 and 30.

They won 14 medals and a total of 11 national kickboxing titles.

Salaamah, Mahmood and Ahmad are the children of South African Kickboxing Association (SAKA) executive development officer Shihan Aslam Mahomed, who is also their instructor at the Benoni dojo (Cajee is his niece).

Salaamah was the youngest competitor at the championship and won two national kickboxing titles and a silver South African medal.

Mahmood claimed two national kickboxing titles and a bronze South African medal, while younger brother Ahmad won all four of his divisions.

He achieved four national kickboxing titles at this SAKA event.

Cajee won three national titles and a silver South African medal.

Their instructor praised his students and family members.

“These four students have made Benoni proud with such astonishing achievements,” he said.

“They won with dignity and showed great sportsmanship.”

The championship had over 500 contestants from all nine provinces participating and was a huge success, with over 1 500 spectators watching on the Saturday.