Car producer selects Tete as its ambassador
World boxing champion Zolani Tete’s preparations for his bout in Russia next month, received a major boost when he was made an ambassador for a local car manufacturer at a glittering event in East London on Wednesday.
The deal saw Tete presented with a luxury Mercedes Benz C 43 AMG at its East London plant.
The C-Class is manufactured in East London, one of only four plants that produce the vehicle worldwide.
Tete, who is deep in preparation for his World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) bantamweight clash against Russian Michael Ayolan in Russia on October 13, is the second local boxer to receive a car from the company.
The first was Vuyani Bungu, who holds the record for the most world title defences by a South African boxer.
Bungu and former Boxing SA board chairperson Ntambi Ravelewas were among the guests at the event, which doubled as a boxing-themed breakfast function for the Laureus Sports for Good programme sponsored by Mercedes Benz SA (MBSA).
The boxing theme was chosen due to the popularity of the sport in the region, with other sporting codes celebrated as part of MBSA’s programme in other provinces.
MBSA’s Abey Kgotle said the manufacturer had chosen Tete as an ambassador because he shared several similarities with the manufacturer.
“Zolani hails from East London, which is also one of only four plants that manufactures the C Class model,” he said.
“It gives us a great pleasure to honour a boxer who was born and bred in Mdantsane.”
He said the donation had also been supported by workers at the plant, who urged Tete to keep them in mind while driving the luxury vehicle.
Tete said he was honoured to be considered as an ambassador for the motor manufacturer. “I hope our marriage will go on to achieve great things.
“I cannot express my gratitude enough to everyone who made this deal possible, from my handlers to workers of MBSA, up to its executive,” he said.
Bungu said the donation was good for boxing and would inspire other youngsters.
“It happened to me back in the day when this wonderful company gave me a car when I was a world champion.
“Now it has done it again with Zolani, and I cannot be happier because this motivates other youngsters who are following a career in boxing,” he said.
Supersport communications manager and former awardwinning boxing writer Clinton van der Berg commended MBSA for keeping boxing as part of its programme.
He appealed to boxers to maximise their marketability in order to attract such deals.
Supersport is currently the only television channel that showcases live national boxing tournaments in the country.