Issy: Health and safety is number one priority
THE Covid-19 pandemic has almost brought Mother Earth to a grinding halt.
It has cost thousands of people their lives and brought grief upon millions of families.
It has affected us all in one way or the other.
Sport got no special treatment, as countless events were given the breaktime whistle up until recently.
For Isghaack Ebrahim, all this means is that he will have to wait that little bit longer to represent his beloved South Africa at the Fifth Thai and International Martial Arts Festival.
Isghaak was selected to represent the SA Muay Thai organisation at the event, hosted by the World Muay Thai Organisation (WMO).
The event was “postponed indefinitely” due to the Covid-19 pandemic, though.
“To fighters, coaches, friends and families of the Fifth Martial Arts Games and Festival, we have seen a steady incline in the number of Covid-19 cases worldwide. The health and safety of all is our highest priority,” said the organising committee of the event in a statement earlier this year.
“We look forward to finding a new date for the event later this year.”
More than 40 countries were set to participate at the event that was originally planned for 7-18 March on Pattaya beach front in Thailand.
“It was very disappointing, but not demotivating,” said Ebrahim after receiving the news of the event’s status.
“It’s a bleak situation, yes, but health and safety is the number one priority right now and takes precedence over everything. I am a tough man mentally, so I’ll take it as an extra camp before my next fight.
“My Kru (instructor) Nicholas Radley and team at Thaiholics really pushed me further than ever, far enough to perform at a higher level than before which will only benefit me going forward… so all was not lost,” said Isghaack who was set to represent Samo (South African Muay Thai Organisation in the sub-75kg pro-am category.
This year’s event is set to be even bigger as there are more disciplines included.
The festival will have amateur, pro-am and professional Muay Thai, along with other disciplines like boxing, K1, Muay Boran, Jeet Kune Do etc.
But until that event materialises, Ebrahim has focused on what is in front of him and what he can control now, following SA’s long and labouring lockdown which saw plenty of businesses including gyms close their doors.
“For now we also returned to training.
“Thaiholics is looking to host a GITR (Get in the ring) Muay Thai streaming event this year or when restrictions allow.
“And I am hoping to fight then,” says the man they call “Issy” in the gym.”
Amidst the lockdown mayhem, Issy has taken the time to acknowledge and appreciate all the finer and simpler things in life. “I am really looking forward to everything when life returns to normal again.
Gym, fast food, random drives and being able to speak with people face to face,” says Issy – who considered doing Muay Thai training – with the help of his wife – while training for the Two Oceans in 2017. “I have not looked back since,” he added after allowing the Muay Thai bug to land a solid KO.
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