By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Veteran boxing trainer Spokes Witbooi is going to keep it as a family affair and not solicit outside help in his quest to make Yanga Sigqibo a world champion.
Witbooi is preparing Sigqibo for what is going to be the 25-year-old boxer’s biggest fight when he goes into the lion’s den to challenge Frenchman and current World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali in France in March.
Sigqibo is going to attempt to become only the third South African boxer with a WBC belt. Dingaan Thobela and Thulani Malinga remain the only two South Africans to win WBC titles.
So serious is Witbooi about this fight that he’s taking Sigqibo out of his comfort zone to make sure that he is fully focused ahead of the clash against Oubaali, who is of Moroccan descent.
‘‘We are going to camp for a month here in East London. We want an environment whereby Yanga won’t be distracted.,’’ Witbooi said.
‘‘We are going to take him out of the normal atmosphere because of the magnitude of this fight. He is still young and needs to be protected. People in East London are talking about this fight and I want him to focus and concentrate at training.’’
Witbooi has insisted that he is not going to engage any outside assistance while honing Sigqibo’s skills ahead of the boxer’s most important fight.
The East London-based trainer is working with his brother-in-law Kholisile Cengani as well as his son Lonkie, who is Sigqibo’s manager.
‘‘I will continuing working with KC Cengani and my son Lonkie while we prepare for this fight. This is the right team for me. I don’t want a big team because that might distract the boy. I feel that we need one voice and a familiar one, too, for this fight,’’ Witbooi said.
Team Sigqibo is going to leave South Africa for France a week before the boxer fights against Oubaali.
