Arm Wrestling SA reaches out to St Francis Care Centre

The Arm Wrestling Association of South Africa (AASA), otherwise known as Arm Wrestling SA, recently donated food parcels to Boksburg’s St Francis Care Centre.

St Francis provides hospice and palliative care to for persons suffering from threatening and/or life limiting conditions.

AASA national secretary Konrad Conradie highlighted that the touching gesture was not the first time AASA reached out to the care centre.

Conradie revealed to the Advertiser that he’s a former resident of the centre and thus it holds a dear place in the heart of the AASA national secretary.

“With the church (at the centre) under lockdown, how are they supposed to get food? No church means no food because the centre relies a lot on money made by the church,” expressed Conradie, who also competes in arm wrestling.

Following the announcement from Minister of Sport and Recreation Nathi Mthethwa on the easing of lockdown regulations allowing contact sports to return to training, Conradie confirmed that all the 24 nationwide arm wrestling clubs are only engaging in training.

Out of AASA’s 24 clubs around the country, six clubs are based in the East Rand. All of Rocksburg, Pain and Gain, Champs for Africa, 8 Bit and Tiger Grip can be found in Boksburg while club Supernova is in Springs.

According to Conradie, Brakpan used to also have a club but currently no more.

The arm wrestling season traditionally stretches across the year with the South African Championships allowing competitors to qualify for the World Championships which are hosted in a different country every year.

Interestingly, Sun City resort was the chosen destination to host the 2021 World Championships after the US hosted this year.

But with Covid-19 defeating basically every sporting event in the world, the tournaments have been pushed back respectively and instead of the worlds coming to SA next year, they will now come in 2022 with the US getting its chance to host next year.

A competition called SA Rankings then takes place after the worlds to determine who the strongest in the country are. No weight categories apply here – it’s pure arm wrestling pitting the strongest against each other for the strongest in SA title.

AASA is also in talks with Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen for a training camp to be hosted at the school post Covid-19 because, in Conradie’s words, youth are the future of the sport.

He added that the sport needs more female competitors.

For any information, Conradie may be reached on 064 539 8815 and on 079 995 4767 for WhatsApp.

ALSO READ: 

St Francis overwhelmed by Mandela Day support

ALSO READ: 

Watch: Nel’s arm wrestling power proves too ‘hot’ in Rocksburg Winter Challenge