By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Sakhiwe Sodo has warned against divisive tendencies after the National Professional Boxing Promoters Association (NPBPA) resolved to challenge Minister of Sport, Zizi Kodwa, following his announcement of the Boxing South Africa (BSA) board and its chairperson on Tuesday.
Kodwa appointed Sifiso Shongwe a board chairperson to lead a team comprised of Luxolo September, Sodo, Romy Titus, Princess Mangoma, Nande Mheshe and Dr Mary-Gene Manthata-Setati.
“Every reasonable-minded person will always appreciate to receive support, particularly from his home province. In line with this spirit, I appreciate the support of the promoters of the Eastern Cape,” Sodo, a member of the outgoing BSA board, remarked.
Even though he appreciates the support from the Eastern Cape promoters, Sodo has warned about what might happen if fighting among licensees doesn’t stop.
“Continuous squabbles in boxing are responsible for driving corporate sponsorships away. Corporate sponsorships wish to associate themselves with excellence rather than mediocrity or chaotic environments,” Sodo said.
On the NPBPA’s resolution to take Kodwa to court with the hope that he would be installed as the new board chairperson, Sodo said: “As a person, I have no ambition to be anything other than serving the board as a member. Challenging a Minister’s decision is unparalleled and can have unintended consequences for the sport.
“This may strain relations between myself and the chair as well as other board members as they may think I am behind the move to unseat the incoming chair. This may create unnecessary divisions in the incoming board.”
Sodo is the only member of the outgoing BSA board, who has been retained and he believes Kodwa wanted continuity thus he didn’t chop him.
“Naturally, the Honourable Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Zizi Kodwa, wanted to ensure continuity from outgoing to the incoming board. He must have been guided by a number of factors to choose me,” Sodo said.
“I have spent my entire life in the administration of boxing. I am an independent person and the South African Boxing Act, Act Number 11 of 2001 is instructional on this aspect. I am an experienced administrator having retired in the civil service at the level of chief director.”
Sodo worked under different MECs in the Eastern Cape department of sport. These include Sonwabile Mancotywa, Nosimo Balindlela, Nomsa Jajula, Noxolo Abraham-Ntantiso, Xoliswa Tom, Pemmy Majodina, Buyiswa Tunyiswa and Fezeka Nkomonye.
