Could canoe polo be your thing?
Ruhan Marx, a canoe polo player, shares just why he thinks you should join in on the sport.
It has been seven years since a friend introduced Ruhan Marx to a sport he had never heard about.
A sport that he not only now coaches but has seen him travel internationally to represent the country.
What is this sport you may ask? It’s canoe polo and he shared why he thought people should be part of the sport too.
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Back in 2015, a 15-year-old Ruhan was just going about his day when a friend implored him to accompany him to Dabulamanzi Canoe Club and he was introduced to what has now become his favourite sport.
Ruhan described himself as a sports enthusiast and this was just one of the three other sports he participated in.
“For me, sport is about building a community and raising its level to that of the top countries through coaching canoe polo together with Niel Burger and Kyle Hardy, two of my best buddies,” he said.
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He along with his best friends currently has a strong focus on growing the sport’s numbers and developing players for the African Championships that will take place next year. “Then, thereafter, if all goes well, it’s off to China for the World Championships.”
How is it that this little-known sport, at least in this part of the world, has had such a stronghold on his life? It is because of the three other sports he participates in, canoe polo incorporated the right mix of things for him.
“Between gymnastics, hockey, rock climbing, and canoe polo I’d say canoe polo has the perfect mix of spices… the most being, like tennis, you can play canoe polo until you’re 60 and beyond.”
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He said the sport also had the right balance between strategy, contact and skill.
Ruhan also believed that the players of the sport were the friendliest and most welcoming people he had ever met.
