Passionate Regis will move mountains to get a title shot
REGIS MUYAMBO is a passionate man. A passionate friend. A passionate teacher. A passionate learner. And a passionate fighter.
He’s so passionate about Cape Town, he sports a tattoo of Table Mountain on his arm – and who can blame him?
“I always tell people Cape Town is my home and Jujutsu is my passion. Two of many things that make me happy to be here,” says the Zimbabwean-born combatant.
It’s so easy to identify his zest for life. Even through our conversation on the often-emotionless WhatsApp social-media platform, his words echo excitement and drive.
And never more so than when he speaks about life in the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC).
“The EFC has always been a dream of mine,” he says.
“Coming from a camp which had fighters like Bernado Mikixi, Gina Ifuki, Sibusiso Mdoko and Chris du Pont ... watching them progress and being a part of it all made me feel like I could achieve my goal of being in the organisation, and one day becoming a champion.”
“And there is a lot at stake in my next fight,” says Muyambo of his bout with Port Elizabeth’s Sindile Manengela at EFC 65 at Carnival City on Saturday.
As for Muyambo, aka “Frostie”, this three-round featherweight bout could determine whether he rises like an uppercut and continues on that route of “becoming a champion” sooner rather than later … or even at all.
If one looks at his fight-card history, it doesn’t read impressively at the moment, with five losses and four wins, and includes a run of four straight defeats.
“Those defeats were hard for me, and it made me question my abilities and those of my coaches.
“People had a lot to say,” says the Silverback Mixed Martial Arts fighter who trains under coach Anthony Kettle.
“But, if you don’t fight the best, you’ll never be the best. True champions never cherry-pick, and they will always want to test themselves and I believe that made me a stronger fighter and person. “I still want that featherweight belt.” One has to give the 23-year-old credit for his outlook and character.
Three of his losses were against “heavyweights” of the industry.
The first one came against the current featherweight champion, Igeu Kabesa. Another was against the current lightweight champion and notorious Don “The Magic Man” Madge.
His last defeat came against fellow-Capetonian, Deon Bruning, who is one match away from a title fight with “The Magic Man”.
So yes, it’s fair to say that “Frostie” has been on the cold side of a few match-ups.
But it’s Muyambo’s “never-say-die” attitude that is most commendable.
“My coaching team and I have worked on many things in preparation for my fight with Sindile and we are looking forward to putting them to use on November 4,” he says.
Frostie’s last three fights read: Win, loss, win. But it is notable that he has found form and confidence, perfecting his boxing-wresting style of late.
Now with added mass in a lighter division (moving from lightweight to featherweight), his new-found swagger will do him the world of good.
His opponent – Port Elizabeth Submission Fighting Academy’s (PESFA) Manengela – has also drastically improved his MMA skillset under the watchful eye of coach Chris Bright.
The judo specialist is high on confidence with three wins in his last four fights.
And a victory at Carnival City will get him a shot at the number-one contender for the featherweight title early next year.
With that said, the 32- year- old Manengela too will be fired up in the City of Gold.
That does not seem to deter Muyambo though.
“I have a ton of respect for my opponent and his camp but that’s not going to stop me from putting him away in an impressive fashion,” Muyambo says .
“I’m looking forward to putting on a show for the fans and laying my claim as one of the best in the featherweight division. I want that belt as well as another crack at the current champion Igeu Kabesa.” THE sighs of relief at Athlone Stadium last night could be heard reverberating from Green Point to Gugulethu as Cape Town City finally got back to winning ways.
The Cape side, after four successive defeats, edged Free State Stars 1-0 in a PSL fixture at Athlone – and it was the unlikely figure of central defender Taariq Fielies who proved to be the hero as he steered in the winner five minutes before full-time after a goalmouth scramble in the Stars penalty area.
While City will be happy with the victory, their continued ineptitude in front of goal will remain a major bone of contention. In short, while the Capetonians dominated the action from the opening whistle, they looked like rank amateurs when faced with scoring opportunities. This is an area that coach Benni McCarthy will have to fix, if they are to be among the challengers in the PSL.
While City were in the ascendancy in the opening 45 minutes with regard to ball possession and territory, they were not able to make that dominance count in the opposition penalty area. The Free State club had clearly come with the aim of attempting a smash and grab – they kept it tight and compact and were very well organized defensively.
For City, despite all the possession they enjoyed, there was just one real shot on target in the first half, and that came in the opening minute when Austrian Roland Putsche blasted a shot over the bar. The Capetonians’ good work was built on the smooth skill and intelligent link play of veteran, 34-year-old Teko Modise, and the direct running of the speedy Craig Martin. The problem for City was that they couldn’t find the final pass to break down the Stars defence, while their crossing was often too long and their decision-making left a lot to be desired.
Stars, on the other hand, stuck resolutely to their game plan. They are a rugged, combative bunch, this Free State side, and they harried the player on the ball, kept their shape and just never allowed City to get any fluency to their game.
Ten minutes before the break, City’s Nigerian striker Victor Obinna went down with a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Judas Moseamedi.
Things proved to be no different in the second period. For the Cape side, Martin and Putsche went close again, while at the other end Tshepo Gumede made a brilliant tackle to deny Stars striker Siphelele Mthembu.
In the final 15 minutes, though, City finally started to get through as the Stars defence started tiring. Mpho Matsi had a shot saved by goalkeeper Ali Sangare and substitute Sibusiso Masina squandered two easy chances. Results: Plat Stars 1 Ajax CT 0, Wits 0 Chippa 2, Pirates 1 Sundowns 3, CT City 1 FS Stars 0, AmaZulu 1 Baroka 1