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Siyabonga Maphumulo, MUT Dance Coach
Like other MUT sporting code coaches, Msona
continues to train his players during the lockdown
using technology. Msona has taken it a step further,
creating a number of challenges that gymnastic
enthusiasts can enjoy being part of. One of these is
the T-shirt challenge. “In the video I demonstrate how
a person can put on their T-shirt while in an upside-
down position, using only their hands, with their feet
balanced on the wall. You can only use one hand at
a time,” said Msona. You have to be extremely fit to
achieve this almost impossible task. It is very tiring to
be in a hand stand position for a long time.
Siyabonga Maphumulo, the dance coach, has enlisted
the help of his niece to get his message across to
his MUT dancers. Dance is an intimate sport, which
makes it even harder to practise in a time when we
are all preaching and observing social distancing.
“That is why I dance with my niece who is a member
of my family; I cannot dance with someone else,” said
Maphumulo.
Dance moves may appear easy, but a professional will
tell you otherwise. “There is a lot that goes into the
process and keeping fit is integral,” said Maphumulo.
He does physical training around the house every
morning and three hours of dance training with his
niece every afternoon. “I am helping her to become
a better dancer and preparing her for when she joins
MUT next year because she is in matric this year,” said
Maphumulo. When she eventually joins MUT she will
be an excellent dancer, he added.
As for his MUT dance team, Maphumulo uses
WhatsApp to send them dance moves to rehearse at
home twice a week. The dance moves are often in the
form of a dance routine that Siyabonga choreographed
with his niece. In return, team members have to send
videos of their best attempts at the dance moves back
to the group. Siyabonga then sends them individual
“Who would ever have
imagined a time when sports
teams would either not play at
all, or play in empty stadiums
and venues?”
Siyabonga Maphumulo, with his niece
feedback on their technique. For those who do not
have the luxury of a dance partner, Siyabonga sends
them dance moves that do not require a partner.
MUT athletics coach Xolani Mabhida has also been
hard at work throughout all the lockdown phases. This
award-winning coach continues to give training to his
athletes. He uses technology to take his team through
a gruelling training regime, determined to help them
follow in the footsteps of double marathon winner
Bongumusa Mthembu, another one of his athletes.