LIMPOPO – When most young people of Ngwenani ya Ha-Mapholi outside Thohoyandou think of Mpho ‘Muscle Beast’ Ndou, very few imagine them hitting the gym daily to work or pumping muscles.
However, this is the secret to staying fit in your later years, according to Ndou.
The Gr 11 learner from Tshandama Secondary School has been described by his friends as determined, motivated, a challenge-lover, and a go-getter.
Training outside, Muscle Beast is the king of bodybuilding in Ngwenaniya ya Ha-Mapholi.
The 18-year-old said he started with self-made concrete gym equipment in 2016.
“Mulaifa Gadavha is the one who motivated me since he became a bodybuilder. I used to accompany him to the gym as I watched him and I learned how to lift weights. I started playing around with small weights until he showed me how it’s done.”
Ndou said in 2019, he started putting pieces of equipment together using cement.
“I still remember when I posted my photo on social media, I received bad publicity. But this didn’t stop me from doing what I love most. Fitness is not just a trend, it’s a lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy body is the key to happiness. Just 30 minutes of physical activity per day can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine not only helps to improve physical fitness but your mental health too. I make fitness a part of my daily routine by taking a short walk, doing some yoga, or even trying something new like dancing,” said Ndou.
At 16, he dreamt of one day owning a gymnasium.
“I would teach other young people from my village about bodybuilding. My journey has been rough, and I have had to face a lot of obstacles and challenges, but I take the situation as it is and make a plan to work around it to achieve my goals. I get to do what I love, and no one can take that away from me.”
He told CV that nutrition is key in the business of body-building.
“I build my body in the kitchen before I build it in the gym. I prefer eating eggs. There’s no use hating what you do just for a good body. The reward won’t be as sweet.”
He said he is also serious about his education, and plans to become a military lawyer one day.
