Page 8 - The Edge Newsletter Sept 2023

8
sports
DUT FIRST YEAR STUDENT KHANYA NGCOBO IS ECSTATIC TO BE PART OF THE E-SPORT FINAL TEAM
The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) E-Sport team made their way to the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Championships which took place recently in Kimberley.
Khanya Ngcobo is currently doing his first year, studying at the Faculty of Applied Sciences.
Ngcobo explained what prompted him to join the sport, saying that whilst he was in high school, he was not good in most of the sports offered and he did not participate in any of them because of that.
“I was a kid who enjoyed playing on his PlayStation most of the time, especially the FIFA game and when I arrived at DUT I heard that there was something called Esports where you can play video games (FIFA) while representing our university and that was music to my ears because I already considered myself an outstanding FIFA player,” he chuckled.
His highlights for him and the team has been Esports winning the Freshers Cup tournament which was his first tournament he had played competitively ever and also the winning division1 league.
When asked how he balances his family life, academic work, and sports, he commented that Esports is something that generally doesn’t take a toll on one’s body and mind unlike other sports and that is why he is able to manage his academic studies. He happily said that his family is really supportive towards the fact that he
has found a sport to play and they were happy that it is a sport to which he can excel in.
Ngcobo has stressed that to date he has not been faced with any obstacles, but the only obstacle he can say he may be facing is transportation after training because he does not stay at res and that it sometimes is a problem because he is forced to leave earlier than he would like to leave.
In preparing for the USSA preparations were good as with constant focus and training, DUT gave it their all.
Ngcobo is all about encouraging other students to be part of the Esports family.
“I would encourage students to join eSports because this is a sport one can participate in which would be easy to balance work and training with while having the time of one’s life. Esports is not only fun but it could take you places you have never been before, in my experience it’s taking me to Kimberley, I would never have imagined I would ever be going there but thanks to Esports I am,” he said jubilantly.
Pictured: Khanya Ngcobo Sinethemba Njoko
NTSHANGASE IS GEARING UP FOR THE TOTALSPORTS TWO OCEANS MARATHON
The energetic 24-year-old Bayanda Ntshangase from eMtunzini kwaQwayinduku in the north coast of KwaZulu- Natal, successfully qualified for the popular Two Oceans Marathon 2024. Ntshangase is a Durban University of Technology (DUT) alumni, he completed his Diploma in Sport Management in 2019.
The Two Oceans Marathon is Africa’s biggest running event by economic impact, contributing R672 million annually to the Western Cape economy. It has earned a reputation as the world’s most beautiful marathon.
Ntshangase cannot wait to take part in the prestigious 56 kilometre ultra-marathon in April 2024. He expressed his excitement as a beginner racer. “I am very excited, honestly I can’t wait for it. I like challenges, so the Two Oceans Marathon 2024 comes with Chapmans Peak Hill which is three kilometres of elevation and another two kilometres in Constantia Hill near the end of the race. It is almost every athlete’s dream race, it is a well organised and epic race, the biggest ultra-marathon in the country,” said Ntshangase.
Ntshangase further explained that he is looking forward to enjoying his first Two Oceans Marathon 2024 which he said is also his dream race. He ambitiously has set himself a target to finish in
a time of four hours 30 minutes. Ntshangase is planning to challenge himself further by joining the ultimate human race that is the gruelling Comrades Marathon 2024.
Currently, Ntshangase does not have any sponsors, but he is an Adidas AdiClub member, which rewards all its members with discounts based on how often one buys from Adidas or gets points as it tracks their training activities. His running club is Discovery Team Vitality, which he explains also
gives their members 30% off in domestic and international flights as well as certain percentage off in buying sporting gear at TotalSport and Sportsman’s
Warehouse.
“I had planned to run my first Ultra Marathon in 2025 but all that changed when my half marathon numbers were good, and the training was even better so I told myself I can’t wait any longer, this is it. I applied for an entry and submitted my half marathon numbers then I was successfully drawn,
now they are waiting for my full marathon results which I will submit after running the Sanlam Cape Town marathon in October. I believe I will do well because my training is going well then 13 April 2024 will be the day,” said
the enthusiastic Ntshangase.
Ntshangase mentioned that he trains three or four times a week, Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday depending on the intensity. On Mondays he does an easy run just taking out lactic acid from weekend’s long run. On Wednesdays he usually focuses on speed, or a tempo run, then on Saturday he does a short distance sprint run for a warmup like seven or eight kilometres. He then goes for a long run- on Sunday. Diet wise, Ntshangase avoids eating foods with high sugar, high fats and sticks to protein for muscle repair, recovery and growth. He also eats carbs for fueling the body and
muscles.
Pictured: Bayanda Ntshangase Nikiwe Sukazi