After being stranded in Asia since last week, award-winning boxing trainer Khangelani Jack and his boxer Siphamandla Baleni, a former South African minimumweight and junior-flyweight champion, are finally on their way back home.
Jack from Mdantsane and Mthatha-born Baleni have been stranded in Asia since the boxer’s loss to Filipino opponent Regie Suganob in the Philippines more than a week ago. They were due to have flown out of the Philippines via Doha, Qatar, on Sunday last week, but they remained in Manila as they couldn’t travel because of closed airspace in most Asian countries.
The airspace was closed after the United States of America (USA) and Israel attacked Iran something which messed up Jack and Baleni’s travelling arrangements.
They finally flew out of Manila for Singapore last Saturday. Unfortunately, they couldn’t continue with their journey as they missed two connecting flights, which would have taken them to either Malaysia or Ethiopia before getting the last one to the OR Tambo International Airport.
“We are in Dubai now. We will leave for South Africa in the evening,” Jack, a 2023 Trainer of the Year award winner, revealed.
The Department of Sport, Boxing South Africa (BSA), South African High Commission in Singapore and Filipino promoter Floriezyl Podot from PMI Bohol Boxing Promotions played a very big role in ensuring that Jack and Baleni return home. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
