Help improve boxing facilities

If Mzamo Njekanye is angry for losing Azinga Fuzile to Colin Nathan, I feel for him 100%.

If there is one boxing trainer who will know first hand what Njekanye is going through, it’s the Mthatha-based Madoda Dyonase. Over the years, he has also lost boxers to Gauteng-based trainers. I understand the reason for boxers relocating to Johannesburg is because of better prospects. What makes me very disappointed is that these trainers do no get credit from trainers who take their boxers.

Njekanye and Dyonase don’t just have common misfortunes of losing boxers, but also operate in crimeridden areas. Duncan Village in East London and Ngangelizwe in Mthatha are such areas. By getting these boys into boxing, they save them from life of crime. Local businesses and government should shoulder the blame as well. KSD municipality only became interested in Simphiwe Khonco once he became a world champion. The same thing will happen the day Siphamandla Baleni becomes world champion. Njekanye and Dyonase’s modest gyms can’t compete with wellequipped ones in Johannesburg.

If businesses were serious about reducing crime, supporting these trainers would make sense. The rich don’t mind buying expensive tables at box-and-dine tournaments, but can’t help boxers and their trainers. I hope these two gentlemen continue providing great service to boxing. Richardson Mzaidume Pimville