Gomza Rakwena, 19, currently training for three major upcoming kickboxing championships is looking to impress in 2016.
Gomza, a K1 Junior Champion in 2015, just matriculated from Randfontein High School (RHS) with an impressive distinction in mathematics.
He is off to Trifocus Fitness College in Randburg in February to study being an all-round personal trainer in pilates, aerobics, powerlifting and boxercise. In March this year Gomza will be competing in the Great North Kickboxing Championships; the South African Kickboxing Championships in Pretoria in April and then hopes to succeed to the World Kickboxing Championships in Italy in November.
Gomza was introduced to kickboxing in 2014 when he accompanied a friend who was competing in a kickboxing match. He joined in and was then spotted by the late Nathi Ximba “The Tiger” and Mark Hey from FitStop Gym. They immediately saw his potential and Nathi started training Gomza personally.
Gomza recalls, “At last year’s Great North Championships, Mark Hey did not tell me that my opponent was a former three time South African Kickboxing Champion but, I won by first round knock out.”
There he became the 60kg division Champion, where he then qualified to go through to the South African Kickboxing Championships. At SAs, he then won both fights by first round knock out and became the K1 SA Champion in the 63kg division.
Comza’s secret recipe to success is passion, hard work and determination.
With that, he also has his feet firmly on the ground, knowing that school came first in 2015 and even declined an invitation to Thailand to partake in the Muay Thai Championships due to exams.
Gomza jogs for two hours every morning, six days a week then has kickboxing practice with Mark Hey in the evening for two hours. Gomza is thankful to his mother, Phumla Rakwena for all her support and also for Mark Hey, his trainer and father, since he adopted Gomza in 2014.
I have big shoes to fill, Nathi Ximba (The Tiger) was a legend and he is, up to today my inspiration and motivation,” Gomza said.
Want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us an SMS/ WhatsApp message with your name and cellphone number to 079 413 8726.
Familiarise yourself with our WhatsApp service disclaimer.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Roodepoort Record, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
