BY WERNER BEUKES, EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WWW.SKJPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.ZA
PROFILE
A
T THIS YEAR’S ARNOLD CLASSIC AFRICA, BHEKUMUZI
“MUZI” MALULEKE STOOD PROUD, FILLED WITH A SENSE
OF PURPOSE AND WORTH ON ONE OF THE BIGGEST
BODYBUILDING STAGES IN THE WORLD. It might be nothing
more than yet another bodybuilding show for some, but for the 25-year-old Muzi it was
‘the’ show – the ultimate representation of his dedication to the craft of bodybuilding,
which has seen him rise from humble beginnings, working out in a backyard in
Soweto, to the best athlete in Africa in his weight category. Muscle Evolution
caught up with this rising star to find out about his passion for bodybuilding
and his drive to succeed at all costs.
Who is Muzi Maluleke?
I grew up in Soweto and was exposed
to lifting weights in Mxolisi Qhanqiso's
backyard after injuring my knee
during soccer practice when I was 16
years old. Mxolisi was kind enough
to loan me a book called “Hard-
Body Plan” and I developed a keen
interest in exercise physiology. The
book was mostly about how muscle
groups adapt to resistance training,
biomechanics, and the various energy
systems of the human body. After three
months of training with just one flat
bench, one barbell, two dumbbells and
a core wheel, I noticed that my body
was changing rapidly. I think at that
point I fell in love with bodybuilding.
My mom did not have extra money
to pay for gym fees so I made an
arrangement with Solly Shaba from
Mofolo in Soweto that I would come
every Sunday before church to clean
the gym and his yard so I could
lift weights. I did this for three
years. In 2010 I decided to go
to the University of Pretoria
to study Sports Science.
Finances were limited so I
made an agreement with the
head of the Sports Science
division, the late Professor
Kruger, that I would pack
weights away each night before
the Tuks Student Gym closes so
I could train. I did this from 2010 till
2012 (until I graduated).
When did you start competing?
I did my first bodybuilding
competition at one of the malls
in Soweto. It was a non-affiliated
show. I started to train seriously
for competitions when I got to
varsity in 2010. I did my first IFBB
novice show that year.
THE RISE OF THE
MUZ
MONSTER
HIS JOURNEY FROM A
WEIGHT PACKER AT
HIS LOCAL GYM TO
BODYBUILDING CHAMPION
62
Muscle Evolution
Muzi Maluleke
Muz_Monster
[email protected]