With South African boxing virtually on shut down mode, the Eastern Cape Managers and Trainers Association has resolved to write to Minister of Sport, Zizi Kodwa, and plead with him to do something to open up boxing activities.
At a meeting held at the Mdantsane Indoor Sport Centre on Sunday, the managers and trainers felt that it was about time that they engage Kodwa in a bid to make sure that their boxers get action.
SA boxing was plunged into a crisis after the National Professional Boxing Promoters Association (NPBPA) successfully interdicted the new board of Boxing South Africa (BSA) in December last year. The promoters cited Kodwa’s ‘failure’ to consult them before appointing and announcing the new board comprised of Sifiso Shongwe, Luxolo September, Sakhiwe Sodo, Romy Titus, Princess Mangoma, Nande Mheshe and Dr Mary-Gene Manthata-Setati.
“We sat down and discussed problems facing South African boxing. And because of the fight between the promoters and the Minister, we agreed to write to the Minister asking him to please appoint an interim board to push boxing forward so that our boxers don’t continue to suffer. Boxers and managers are not part of the promoters’ fight against the Minister. We really appreciate the fact that change is needed in South African boxing. However, boxing programmes must not stop because of the fight between the promoters and the Minister. Boxers depend on boxing for a livelihood,” EC Managers and Trainers Association secretary Thulani Mhlubulwana said.
Meanwhile, Mhlubulwana also revealed that Eastern Cape boxers elected an interim structure, which is going to be led by Lutho Mbuku as chairperson.
SA female minimumweight champion Thobela Nyanda is Mbuku’s deputy with Moyisi Booi being the secretary and his deputy is Thapelo Bokwe. Siyabonga Wellem is the treasurer while Owethu Rula, Sanele Magwaza and Zama Zokwe are additional members.
“It is now up to the boxers to decide what to do and mobilise more boxers in order for them to form an Eastern Cape structure. Mr PhakamileJacobs is going to co-ordinate as he is a BSA employee in the province,” Mhlubulwana concluded.
