Youth in Mitchell’s Plain don’t have positive role models and have lots of free time to do mischief. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020 it added to gyms closing down and more children roaming the streets or standing on street corners.
Cassiem Kader and Lucien Henniker from Woodlands, who were both into powerlifting at the time, had to do something to keep fit when the local gym closed.
They decided to start their own gym at 28 Flora Street in Woodlands.
“Both of us were competing in powerlifting at the time and our last competition was at the beginning of March 2020.
“We put our money together, bought the basic equipment and started the gym. We spoke to the youth at the competition and learners from surrounding schools and asked them to join our gym Strenght Centre in Woodlands. Our numbers grew slowly and by word of mouth we have six youngsters at our gym,” says Kader.
He also says that since no physical training is part of the school curriculum for youth to shed their energy or joining sport clubs they opt to stand on street corners and admire merchants driving in flashy cars.
“The youth see the merchants as success stories and aspire to one day also drive a flashy car. We want to change the perspective of the youth in the greater Mitchell’s Plain by giving them the option of doing sport as a vehicle to also be successful in life.
“When they join our gym we teach them the basics of powerlifting where they can take part to keep fit or pre-training for a competition. The three areas you compete in at competitions are bench, squat and dead lift. We don’t charge a cent, all you need to join is your shorts, flat tekkies and a T-shirt. Training sessions are between one and one and a half hours and these sessions are attended by adults and learners,” says Henniker.
Learners from schools in and around Woodlands will pop around after school and the adults in the evening for their training sessions.
“We are currently preparing five participants to compete at the National Powerlifting Competition in Gordons Bay on Wednesday 23 November.
“The categories of the competition are sub junior (13 to 17 years), junior, seniors, open, masters from one to three. We’ll have competitors in sub junior, one in open and two in the masters section,” says Henniker.
Kader emphasises that they want to grow the sport of power lifting in the community.
“Currently soccer is the main sport being played in Mitchell’s Plain and not everyone makes it as a name in soccer. We offer the youth another option to make a name by competing in powerlifting. Hopefully we will set a new trend in Mitchell’s Plain with world champions coming from Mitchell’s Plain in powerlifting,” Kader says.
