BSA mum on awards details
Boxing South Africa (BSA) is keeping mum about the venue and date for the national boxing awards with just less than a month to go.
This was revealed by the regulatory body’s chief executive Tsholofelo Lejaka who insisted that the decision about the venue for this year’s edition would be announced next month.
The awards ceremony was held in Port Elizabeth last year with the provincial department of sports, recreation, arts and culture funding it.
The department had raised its hand as early as 2016 when the awards made a welcome return in Durban after a long absence.
By the time delegates left KwaZulu-Natal, they already knew that the next stop would be the Eastern Cape.
However, this time the announcement of the venue has been kept under wraps with Lejaka flatly refusing to reveal the name of the likely hosts.
When asked if the Eastern Cape would be considered again, he said: “I am not ruling anyone out at this stage.”
However, insiders have suggested North West as a possible venue.
The running of has been a costly without backing.
The last two editions were televised by the SABC but the public broadcaster nearly withdrew at the last moment in Port Elizabeth forcing BSA to cut down on other programmes planned for the night.
Lejaka said the body would seek a new broadcast partner for this year’s event. the awards exercise, especially loyal television
“We will make the announcement including the hosts, date and everything related to the awards next month,” he said when pressed to reveal if the SABC was still on board.
Nominations are expected to open on Friday until February 22.
Categories such as “match maker of the year”, won by Luyanda Kana last year, have reportedly already been removed.
Last year, WBO bantamweight champion Zolani Tete won Boxer of the Year, while Xolisani Ndongeni won in the previous year.