‘Rebels’ and executive at loggerheads
MATTERS are expected to come a head today when provincial promoters converge in a meeting in Port Elizabeth without the presence of their executive structure.
Instead the Eastern Cape Promoters Association (ECPA) will hold its own meeting in East London on Monday with an agenda similar to the one that will be discussed in Port Elizabeth.
Port Elizabeth meeting convener Bongani Zulu assured that the gathering would go ahead as planned with the majority of promoters confirming attending.
“Out of 20 promoters 16 have confirmed attending and the stage is therefore set for a robust debate on boxing issues affecting promoters,” he said.
However ECPA chairman Ayanda Matiti dismissed the meeting as having been called by following correct procedures.
He said the meeting had no blessings of the association and therefore no executive member is expected to attend it.
“We heard about the meeting in PE but as an executive we are not taking it serious,” he said.
“We do not know the capacity of the people who have called it because there is an existing structure in place that has to coordinate the meeting.”
Matiti insisted that if any promoters wanted to hold a meeting the correct procedure was to put it in writing to the secretary of the association Phathekile Sinyabi.
But Zulu argued that the invitation was extended to the association but was met with silence.
“As far as we know we informed them of the meeting but nothing has been forthcoming from their side so we cannot simply fold our arms while there are pertinent issues to discuss.”
While Zulu refused to reveal the issues he is talking about it is understood that the meeting will discuss the election of the new structure whose one-year term is said to have expired.
The promoters in the province have been split down the middle with those that want the current structure out.
Zulu is understood to be behind the move and he is reportedly drawing plenty of support from other sections of the promoters.
The promoters labelled as dissidents, reportedly want Thando Zonke or Champion Bakubaku as the chairman.
Zonke is currently the treasurer of the current structure while Bakabaku was suspended as a deputy secretary on allegations of fraud.
While the group insists that the term of office of the current structure has expired, Boxing SA is disputing the notion saying the term will only end in June.
According to BSA boss Tsholofelo Lejaka the current structure was elected in 2016 and its two-year term will only end in June 2018.
At the moment the interim national structure that was elected in Auckland Park in July 2017 on the constitution by all provincial structures. “That means the next annual general meeting of ECPA would be convened on the basis of the new constitution which is still being worked on,” he said.
The discrepancy in the term of the associations has also affected the managers who are also planning to hold their own AGM in the next few weeks.
The perception among the associations is that the term of office has now been cut from two to one year.
This is however disputed by BSA which insists that the two-year term is still in effect.
Matiti warned that members of executive who attend the PE meeting might face the music.
“Obviously in our Monday meeting we will reflect on the members who attended this PE gathering and see what action to take,” he said.
While he is seen as the stumbling block by his opponents, Matiti revealed that he would not avail himself as a chairman when the new structure is elected.
“But I will not simply hand over the reins without ensuring that the association is in safe hands because the image of boxing should be preserved and protected.” — Boxing Mecca