Mlandeli Tengimfene is grateful to the doctors who performed a successful shoulder operation on former South African bantamweight title contender Lusizo ‘Speed Fire’ Manzana.
Tengimfene, who is the manager at All Winners Boxing Club in Mdantsane, revealed on Friday that things are going to get better for Manzana after he underwent the operation at the Bedford Hospital in Mthatha on Wednesday.
“It is with pleasure to announce that Mr Lusizo “Speedfire” Manzana has been under the knife for his dislocated left shoulder. The surgery was done on Wednesday at Bedford Hospital under the watchful eye of orthopaedic surgeon Dr Lonwabo Nxiweni together with his dedicated team of doctors and nurses,” Tengimfene said.
“I wish to thank everyone involved from the CEO of Rumble Africa, who entrusted me with this huge responsibility of making it a point that her boxer gets back to the boxing ring healthy, his trainer Mr Gopheni “Best”, Mr Kwezi Booi his mentor and Mr Makubalo the retired Department of Sport official who referred me to Dr Nxiweni as the best surgeon to assist me in this regard.
“Last but not least, I wish to thank Mr Lusizo Manzana who believed in me and entrusted all his hope on my advice. Had it not been for him coming to me after his last fight, I doubt that we would be this happy today. Now the most important stage is the process of rehabilitation and getting back to business in the next five months or so.”
The shoulder injury conspired against Mthatha-born Manzana when he challenged for the then vacant SA bantamweight against Landile Ngxeke last December. Ngxeke stopped Manzana in the fourth round.
