Sports official says all are welcome at this weekend’s Boxing Indaba
ALL stakeholders in boxing will be welcomed at the National Boxing Indaba in Pretoria this weekend, contrary to suggestions that the red carpet would only be rolled out for a select few,
The indaba will be hosted by Department of Sport and Recreation. spokesman Paena Galane said boxers, trainers, managers, promoters, broadcasters and provincial departments were all welcome to attend.
‘‘The only people who will not attend are Sanabo (South African National Amateur Boxing Organisation). They were told by Aiba (International Amateur Box- ing Association) not to arrive,” Galane said.
The meeting, aimed at charting a path to brighter future for boxing in SA, begins today and ends on Sunday.
Issues that Galane believes will be discussed at length include the South African Boxing Act of 2001, the Combat Sport Bill, marketing, sponsorship and broadcasting rights, development of boxing, medical aspects and capacity development.
Most of SA’s provinces recommended that the South African Boxing Act of 2001 be amended, and that provincial structures be brought back.
They were abolished by former sports minister Ngconde Balfour when Boxing SA came into being in 2001. Authorities then appointed provincial service providers, who are managing things, albeit temporarily.
While boxers want nothing but action and better purses, promoters want to retain TV rights. They want TV dates to be adequately spread among all the promoters, which has not been the case.
‘‘Resolutions taken this weekend will be tabled in Parliament for further discussion. They will actually form part and parcel of the national sport and recreation (department) plan,” Galane said.