Strength and conditioning

LIMBA MUPETAMI Windhoek is a long way from home for 27-year-old Martin Angombe, who was born and raised in Oniipa in the Oshikoto Region.His passion for sport and fitness drove him to settle in the city of great opportunities. Angombe is a fitness guru, who studied sport science at ETA College in Bloemfontein, South Africa, majoring in sport and recreation management.A while back the young coach was roped in by Immanuel 'Imms' Moses, the owner of the AC Boxing and Fitness Gym, to assist his boxers.He is the strength and conditioning coach of several of the country's top boxers. He recently tasted the sweet fruit of his labours, when he helped Paulus 'El Jesus' Ambunda to soar to victory in his IBO super bantamweight title fight in Singapore.Angombe was one of the boxer's wingmen at the gym, as he trained Ambunda ahead of him winning his third world title belt.“We had a three-month training camp before the fight. It wasn't easy, as I had to push the boxer to gain fitness. We did everything possible to perfect his body for the fight, which he won. “However, I also work with former unified light-welterweight world champion Julius 'Blue Machine' Indongo, as well as Sakaria 'Desert Strom' Lukas.“These are just some of the big names, but we never forget the younger prospects like Flaime Nangolo and many others who are all rising stars,” Angombe said.He offers the boxers strength and conditioning workouts. “These are two different things. With strength training we look at muscle improvement and overall body strength. Stamina in the legs and power in the arms and in the punch is the core focus.“Conditioning involves a regime of exercises, body massages, correct diet, proper rest, blood circulation and so forth,” he adds. Angombe emphasises these are core components in becoming a successful athlete. He stresses that one can be a talented boxer, but if you lack strength and receive no conditioning workouts, you will never succeed or perform to the best of your ability. He said strength and conditioning training is highly beneficial for those who want to improve their overall health and wellbeing. “In addition, this type of training improves the strength and toughness of bones, tendons, muscles and ligaments, speed and agility, endurance and core stability. Angombe not only uses his expertise to groom and shape boxers; he also takes on private clients. “I also offer them the same service as I do the boxers, because fitness is the same, whichever way you look at it. Most of them want to lose weight, tone-up and get fit.”One of his private clients, fitness enthusiast Joyce Shapumba, said she recently joined the training camp, but every morning - Mondays to Thursdays - is a tough test. “The coach will explain what is expected. Everything is set up like a military operation and the training is like clockwork. “The coaching is effective and efficient, and the training is extremely suited to getting the body into shape,” she said. “We are a group of ladies and men and we all work hard.”Angombe stresses that any athlete from the age of 13 should do strength and conditioning workouts, under the supervision of a certified fitness instructor. His training sessions take place at the Katutura State Hospital's netball court, as well as at the AC Boxing and Fitness Gym in Lafrenz in the afternoon, for a fee.

Strength and conditioning

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

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Strength and conditioning

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

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