Finally it’s fisticuffs time for the League

AFTER several postponements amid uncertainty if the launch would ever happen, the Open Boxing League (OBL) will finally kick off in Johannesburg this weekend.

This was confirmed by SA National Amateur Boxing Organisation (Sanabo) president Andile Mofu, who has been moving heaven and earth for the event to see the light of day.

The launch was initially scheduled to be held in Port Elizabeth in July last year, only for it to be shifted to East London when Nelson Mandela Bay Metro changed political administration.

Despite former sports minister Fikile Mbalula having already officially announced the OBL in one of his departmental speeches, the event kept encountering stumbling blocks due to Mbalula’s unavailability.

He did later inform the Daily Dispatch that the league which features amateur boxers in all nine provinces competing in a league format, would finally be launched before the end of the month.

However a cabinet reshuffle by President Jacobs Zuma saw Mbalula being deployed to the police ministry with Thulas Nxesi taking over his position as sports minister.

For a while the launch appeared set to be one of the casualties of the reshuffle especially as East London which was targeted as a launch venue, had an overflowing calendar of events.

This included the Year of Africa programme scheduled to be run by International Amateur Boxing Association (Aiba) from July 5.

“Because of East London’s busy schedule Gauteng jumped on the opportunity to host this league and we are glad because we planned a while back,” said Mofu.

Nxesi will officially launch the event with a keynote address which will hopefully touch on a number of boxing programmes that were in place during the Mbalula tenure.

The launch will take place at Faramani Multi Purpose Centre in Tsakane, Brakpan, with festivities starting at noon.

Mofu said East London would follow suit to host the league championship bouts early next year.

“At least I am sure East London people are happy that they will hit the ground running now and be relieved of the pressure coming with launching a programme.”

Eastern Cape Amateur Boxing Organisation (Ecabo) president Vido Mtekwana said the province would not send a team to the launch.

“We understand that the league will not kickstart there and then but Gauteng will just have a friendly tournament against North West as part of the launch.”

Mtekwana said Ecabo boxers were busy preparing for the elite national championships which will be held at Mdantsane Indoor Centre as part of the Year of Africa programme. — Boxing Mecca