Komani’s sporting herotage in spotlight in boxing tournament
QBBC hosts 19 bouts in annual Chris Hani Open event
Komani boxing enthusiasts were treated to great bouts at the Thobi Kula Indoor Sport Centre on Saturday.
Four boxing clubs entertained boxing enthusiasts in Komani over the weekend, during the Chris Hani Open Boxing Heritage Month Boxing Tournament, which was hosted by Queenstown Boys Boxing Club (QBBC) in Mlungisi Township.
The other three teams that attended were the Banda Boxing Club from Whittlesea, Tiger Boxing club from Ilinge and Ndungwana Boxing Club from Cofimvaba.
For this annual event, clubs from Marikana in North West and Kimberly were also invited but could not attend for technical reasons.
Boxing fans were entertained by 19 sterling bouts.
Bongiwe Nocanda was the official referee for all the bouts.
QBBC’s Mabuti Mapeyi said: “The tournament was a success but there’s still a long way that we need to go to bring women closer to the sport.
“They (women) do not have to join the sport as boxers only as there are other roles they can play such refereeing and score card judges.
“QBBC celebrated Heritage Day by following the history of boxing in Komani. Boxing in Chris Hani started here in Komani in 1918 when the club was founded and officially launched in 1934,” he said.
The club produced its first ever professional boxer, Alesta Alister
Mahashe, who fought 34 fights with 22 wins, 10 losses and two draws.
Mapeyi added that they would like
to be assisted with boxing equipment as they only have one boxing ring for the whole of the Chris Hani District
Municipality. “We will never stop promoting boxing because of these challenges,” Mapeyi said.
Boxers were awarded medals. They are now preparing for a tournament that will be held in Ilinge Township during the first weekend of October.
The bouts were as follows:
24kg: Siphesihle Ntwanambi beat Liyema Setasi.
26kg: Linathi Mbovu beat Lilitha Nyaka. 28kg: Khumbula Sizani beat Somila Jonase
30kg: Asekhona Ntemakwana beat Inga Ngabayena
30kg: Likhona Sizani beat Isiphile Ndabeni
32kg: Lufentse Nteta beat Siyavuya Sika 34kg: Aphelele Setasi beat Minentle Mamanni
36kg: Oko Gcadu beat Imange Dayani 37,5kg: Yanda bikwana beat Nizole Sampo
39kg: Iviwe Damesi beat Jordan Ntwanambi
42kg: Ayabonga Ntabeni beat Mahle Mbele
43kg: Othandayo Zenzile beat Iviwe Jaca 49kg: Lihle Jaca beat Endinako 48kg: Mihle Silandela beat Emihle Bikwana
50kg: Zukhanye Stuurman beat Xabiso Mafenyane
50kg: Linokanyo Bhungane beat Alive Dyani
54kg: Sinako Malilwana beat Thandile Mavuso
56kg: Sinethemba Jako beat Siyamthanda Damesi
63kg: Bantu Kati beat Liyabona Tooshana