By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Trainer Harry Ramogoadi-Manaka’s dream to churn out champions from his VIP Boxing Academy in Benoni is finally becoming a reality.
Just over a month after leading Sharadene Fortuin to South African female bantamweight title glory when she dethroned Melissa Miller in Johannesburg, Ramogoadi-Manaka produced yet another champion on Saturday evening.
Ramogoadi-Manaka guided Simangele Hadebe to victory at the Music World in Parkview, Pretoria. Hadebe won the vacant SA female flyweight title after she outpointed Thema Zuma.
“This means a lot for our gym. You know, I had high hopes when I took the other crew from the Eastern Cape. I mean your Lwandile Sityata, I had very high hopes,” Ramogoadi-Manaka said.
“We know what we have put in as a gym, as a business, the scarifices we have made. Every gym wants to produce champions. As gyms, we are all homes of champions. If we produce champions, then it’s a good thing.”
Ramogoadi-Manaka, who once led Frans Ramabolu to World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan-African and World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental junior-middleweight titles, is very happy with Fortuin and Hadebe’s achievements.
“The capabilities are there. Sometimes it’s just a matter of time. We are very happy with how far we have gone,” the VIP Boxing Academy chief said.
