Six local boxers took to Mdantsane recently, representing the Cacadu district in the provincial boxing trials. The local boxers went head on with OR Tambo, Ukhahlamba, Chris Hani, Alfred Nzo and Amathole districts boxers in what was a challenge to decide who will join the Eastern Cape boxing team.
Six local boxers took to Mdantsane recently, representing the Cacadu district in the provincial boxing trials. The local boxers went head on with OR Tambo, Ukhahlamba, Chris Hani, Alfred Nzo and Amathole districts boxers in what was a challenge to decide who will join the Eastern Cape boxing team.
According to newly appointed Cacadu boxing deputy president Bulelani Ndwayana the Makana boxers had been denied assistance by the local Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) where the Eastern Cape Amateur Boxing Organisation (ECABO) had to come to the rescue and it transported the local boxers to Mdantsane.
“We were building a Cacadu team to go to Mdantsane but only Makana boxers could attend due to the lack of support from our local sports department,” says Ndwayana.
The chief sports organiser at DSRAC, Msondezi Maswana was not available to comment. The tournament began on the Friday and the rounds went on until Sunday, when the finals were staged.
Out of the six local boxers who competed, pin weight boxer Thandile Mayi fought his way to the semis where he lost and took home the bronze medal.
The other local boxers Mzoxolo Ndwayana (welter weight), Bongani Mabona (junior welter weight), Masixole Sidada (lightweight), Lwando Khonza (featherweight) and Mxolisi Ralo (bantam weight) fought well to reach the quarter finals.
Reflecting on the selection criteria, Ndwayana says that boxers are judged based on their potential boxing skills regardless of the rounds they reach “so though most of our boxers were out in the early rounds they still stand a chance for selection”.
Leading to this tournament, the Makana Amateur Boxing Organisation (Makabo) held a district tournament at Indoor Sports Centre, where various Cacadu municipalities took part, fighting to join the district team that was to make the Mdantsane trip.
“There are a lot of problems facing boxing locally, maybe now we should start questioning the higher authority because none of the departments here are supporting local boxing,” said Cacadu boxing PRO Sakhiwo Duruwe.
Makabo hopes to develop boxing in Grahamstown but is discouraged by the lack of support from local sports authorities.
In August Makabo is to host the Makana trials for U12 to U16 junior boxers who will be able to qualify for the district trials to be held in September.
