No place like home for Bay champion Apleni

AT ONLY 21-years-old local karate world champion – the second black South African to be crowned world champion in the sport – Nkululeko Apleni, is already world-wise and well-travelled. But there is no place like home no matter what, the dedicated martial arts fanatic believes.

“I have been everywhere is the world to some of the most interesting places and some of the best tourism destinations around the globe: England, Germany, Portugal, Mexico and Mozambique,” said Apleni. “But there is something about coming home to Nelson Mandela Bay, flying in over the Bay, you know you are home.”

Apleni started karate at the age of six and got his first dan in black belt at 18. “Since then I have never looked back because this achievement motivated me to aspire for more victories.”

In 2010 Apleni, who was born and bred in Zwide, represented South Africa at the JSKA World Cup in Portugal where he received a gold medal, making him world champion in his division. This experience coupled with his love for a city and father that moulded him into a world champion has turned him into an ambassador for not only South Africa but for Nelson Mandela Bay.

“I feel proud to represent my country, and am honoured to make my family and South Africa proud. My aim is to set a good example for the youth around my community and also people from the entire Nelson Mandela Bay metro. This is my home and I love it here.”

His father and coach sensei Sicelo Apleni is a well-known Eastern Cape karate champion who has a fifth dan black belt and has produced more than 100 first dans in Port Elizabeth alone and his mother Letitia, a well-known ANC Women's League veteran, died in 2009.

Apleni has thrown his chops behind the Donkin Reserve in Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism’s icon campaign and I love NMB competition, the place he believes epitomises his “inspiring city”.

“The Donkin captures the old and the new history of our city,” said Apleni, taking some time out from his hectic three times a day training schedule to walk on the Donkin. “The statue of Nelson Mandela represents freedom for our country and the name of our city and the pyramid tells a story of love and the founding of Port Elizabeth. The Donkin is a place where our history is told – the old and the new.”

Apleni, whose first name ‘Nkululeko’ means Freedom in Xhosa says that Nelson Mandela Bay is a the city which tells the tale of South Africa’s fight for freedom

“I am hard working, extremely driven individual. I believe anything this possible in life through mental, physical and spiritual fitness.”