Speed, power, discipline, and defence: these are qualities that sportsmen and women at Masibambane Boxing Club need to become wonderful boxers.
Speed, power, discipline, and defence: these are qualities that sportsmen and women at Masibambane Boxing Club need to become wonderful boxers.
With three-hour training sessions every weekday, as well as professional and friendly boxing tournaments during the weekend, the boxers at this Joza boxing club are turning themselves into fit and disciplined members of the community with each hit of the punching bag.
Masibambane was founded in 1987 and is the oldest of the five boxing clubs in Grahamstown.
Bulelani Ndwayana, one of the founders, helps coach members of the club and manages the professional boxers, including his son, Mzoxolo.
“Boxing requires a lot of discipline,” said Ndwayana.
Explaining that boxers are often tested for HIV and Hepatitis B, he said boxers are banned from drinking, smoking, having multiple sexual partners or getting involved in crime.
“We have group sessions with the boxers to make them more aware of HIV, because they cannot be boxers if they are infected by the virus. We try to keep them focused and sport is a good weapon to teach them – especially boxing,” said Ndwayana.
Mzoxolo, the provincial champion, will be taking part in the Eastern Cape welterweight title next weekend in East London and will be going in at a light 66kg.
HOW TO JOIN:
Masibambane is open to men and women between the ages of 10 and 35.
Applicants train for a month and then sign the official Masibambane membership form.
The annual fee is R50 for adults and R10 for under 16s.
Training takes place weekdays from 4.30 to 7.30pm at the Indoor Sports Centre in Joza.
'Join the Club' is a series of short profiles on sports clubs in Makana.
