The prideless lion
Justice faces failure head-on and puts what he loves most up for sale: his boxing championship belts.
Keeping Score Mon-Tue SABC2 (*192) 21:30
Former boxing champ and ASA gym boss Justice (Saint Seseli) has overcome many obstacles in his past, but none have made him shake in his boots like his current predicament, says actor Saint. “Look, he is fully aware that this is a terrible situation. The gym has no money and he can’t send the athletes to Cape Town for the trials. That weighs heavy on his shoulders. But he is also a victim of his circumstance.” Justice ended 2017 having woken from a coma, being tricked into thinking that he was in a relationship with his secret babymama Warona (Sonia Mbele), as well as having to deal with his illegal gambling not just taking over his life but also that everyone knew about it. “It was tough on him,” laughs Saint, “but he’s made his bed, now he must lie in it and fix things if he can.”
SHOWMAN ’TIL THE END
The gym athletes have been training for the pre-trials since early January but Justice has managed to keep the ASA’s finance woes under wraps. That changes by Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 February when travel and accomoda- tion arrangements for the trip to Cape Town fail to materialise. “Justice isn’t sure what to do,” admits Saint. “There just isn’t any money. He can’t make it grow on trees. And what’s worse is that Mmamosa is basically in control of his gym – she has his dreams in her hands and can crush them for him.”
A SPOONFUL OF PRIDE
ASA trainer Alex (Andile Nebulane) steps forward as an unlikely hero on Monday 12 February when he offers to auction off his Olympic medal, using the funds to help send a few athletes to the pre-trial events. “But Justice can’t allow someone else to steal his thunder,” warns Saint. Justice refuses to let Alex “be the better man” and save the day, so on Tuesday 13 February he swallows his pride and puts his boxing belts up for auction too. “He stands there looking at his belts, the things that mean the most to him from his career, and he’s going to lose them now because he was stupid and went gambling and didn’t run the gym in the right way,” says Saint. “I think this is when he realises just how bad things are. He’s been conscious of what he has been doing, but now it hits him like a knock-out blow from an opponent.” But like a true champ, you can’t count Justice out just yet, warns the actor.