The BRD Sports Academy has moved from Hillfox Shopping Centre to Clearview Village in Florida North. The move occurred towards the end of last year to make access to the academy easier for boxers and fitness junkies and attract more talent.
The academy will be run by Richard Fernandes while his father, Manny, takes care of another club in the south of Johannesburg. Richard has been part of the boxing fraternity since the age of seven, winning the South African Championship title. He then turned professional at the age of 18, competing as a flyweight. Nowadays, the 34-year-old boxer prefers coaching – grooming young talent for the future of the sport he is passionate about.
“People with stress, anxiety, frustration at work and weight problems come here to let all of those emotions go. Although there are professionals in the academy, the academy is for everyone. Boxing also helps with self- discipline and control, which helps young children immensely,” he said.
One of Richard’s fondest memories is of travelling to Durban as an amateur boxer with his clubmates.
“I remember the whole lot of us running to the beach and having fun just before we went home. One of the coaches played a trick on me and put sand in my pants. I had to sit with that uncomfortable feeling for the rest of the time and no matter how hard I tried to get the sand out, it just wasn’t happening,” he laughed.
As a way to attract more potential boxers and celebrate their time at their new home, the Academy will be hosting a Fitness Competition on 25 February. It will be a training circuit which will include rope-skipping, heavy ropes, hammer slams on a tyre and various other workout routines. Each routine will test the participant’s fitness and endurance. With sponsors such as Featherbrooke’s Pizza Del Forno and Food Lovers Market, there will be plenty of prizes to be won. There will be categories for men, women and children categories, with an entry fee of R50 per person.
For more information, contact 072 599 7439.
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