By Sisipho Pinyana
Two weeks ago, Mfuzo Boxing Camp held its second annual awards ceremony at Noluthando Hall. Grocott’s Mail community sports writer, Chris Totobela, was one of the award recipients for his outstanding work promoting sports in disadvantaged communities.
Awards ceremony organiser, Mawawa Mfuzo, says the awards encourage and motivate the athletes from the work they do during the year. He adds that their work is not easy, but those involved in sports sacrifice to ensure the boxers succeed.
About receiving the award, Totobela says, “I’m very happy that I am contributing to the development of sport in our previously disadvantaged communities.” He adds that there was little to no representation of sports stories from the past in the township. “I receive a lot of great reviews from many people in our community for the work that I do, and I’m now the face of Grocott’s sport in the community,” he said.
Speaking to Grocott’s Mail, the Makanda-born-and-raised Totobela saw sports as a getaway from crime and negative influences in the community from a young age. He says that he wanted to rise above his circumstances and continues striving to help the youth involved in sports in Makhanda do the same.
Totobela says he started his first soccer club at the age of 10, where he managed it despite there being some who were older than him. At age 14, he managed another team, later managing the girls’ club, African Connection Women FC.
Totobela says his love for sports began at a young age. “Even at school, I used to play every chance I got… I also wanted to lead and dominate [and make an impact in sports].”
According to Totobela, Makhanda has some dangerous areas where people cannot walk; high crime rates cause this, he says. That’s when he saw a gap to help youth get more involved in sports so they do not fall into the trap of gangsterism and crime.
Since his involvement in sports in 1983 with his club, Soccer Chiefs FC, Totobela has strived to keep improving youth’s participation in sports so that young people can improve their lives. Motivated by his passion for youth, Totobela says, “Even though I feel like giving up, I look at the role I played in these children’s lives and where I am coming from and where I am going.”
Totobela says that the community often help him through donations and handouts so he can continue with community sports. He lives by his motto: “Thina, we are moving with what we have. We do not wait till whenever we move, and the government will help us along the way.”
Totobela adds that grassroots coaches play a massive role in helping children’s sports, though they are not paid for their involvement. He says that the most extensive support they need is equipment, which will significantly help the teams. He also encourages parents to support their children because the support gives them confidence and makes them happy.
