By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Two-time South African champion Xolisani ‘Nomeva’ Ndongeni has achieved almost everything he wanted to achieve this year both in and outside the ring.
Not only did Ndongeni stop his opponents in his three fights this year, he also put a ring – a round one – on his sweetheart Phaleng’s finger to seal a matrimonial union between them.
The KwaBhaca-born former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) lightweight titlist also opened his own gym in Midrand.
With the second leg of his wedding to Phaleng scheduled for Saturday, 18 December in his hometown of KwaBhaca in the Eastern Cape, Ndongeni is content with everything he has achieved this year.
“It’s been a challenging year with COVID making our lives difficult. The conditions have been unfavourable. But it would be ungrateful of me to look down on the things I have achieved this year,” the 31-year-old Ndongeni said.
“There are people who wished to achieve many things this year and yet they achieved nothing. I’m better off and grateful for everything that I have achieved.”
Ndongeni, who aims to achieve more next year in his quest to win another world title, regards 2021 as the best year since relocating to Johannesburg from East London in 2015.
“Many good things have happened to me. I got married and I also opened my gym. I also fought three times under COVID conditions. This has been the best year since I moved to Johannesburg,” the former SA junior-lightweight and lightweight champion remarked.
