BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
Being physically fit has a number of benefits on our overall health, when your body is constantly active, even the mind functions better. And this is exactly why university buddies, Xolisa Makubalo and Anita Zenani decided to start a fitness initiative, to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle in their community of Khayelitsha in Cape Town.
AX Factor Physico is a group fitness program that is based at Velokhaya Cycling Academy, in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. The program was established in 2021 by Anita (25) and Xolisa (28) who are former teammates in cycling and now partners.
Anita is a Sport Psychology graduate from the University of the Western Cape, while Xolisa is concluding his Sport Science degree at the same institution. “I played football for UWC varsity team and USSA NATIONAL team,” Xolisa tells The Fuse.
“I am currently working as a BMX cycling coach at Velokhaya Cycling Academy, where we received support to conduct our sessions. It is easy for me to juggle and manage my work and program because I believe this is my calling. I am passionate about working with and developing youngsters, and now I am also engaged with elderly people. I enjoy what I do, every day I look forward to the next fitness session, I look forward to having an input in making a change in someone’s life. And for me, it’s through sport and fitness,” he continues.
“The passion for fitness and community development led us to establishing this program. We do everything with the mission of bringing movement and awareness about fitness, an active lifestyle and healthy living in communities. To especially counter the rise in obesity and diseases in communities. We were also concerned by the lack of fitness facilities and community members find it hard to keep their fitness routine as they get demotivated when they exercise in unsafe field on their own,” Anita says.
AX Factor offers a umber of services, including HIITs, SPLITS, Sports massages, hiking and beach fitness sessions.
“To date we have over 50 registered members and our program is gaining momentum day by day. Our short-term goal is to work with fitness brands like Under Amour and conduct fitness boot camps at Velokhaya, and other institutions. Our long-term goal is to grow into a fitness and recovery center, to have our own structure,” Xolisa concludes.
