Disgruntled boxing sector called on to be patient
Patience is what the department of sport, arts and culture is asking for from the boxing fraternity, which appears to be losing tolerance with the boxing authorities who have been accused of moving at a snail’s pace when dealing with matters that affect the fistic sport.
Licensees are disgruntled and they want change. What irks the most is that boxing is the only sporting code in SA that does not have even a single sponsor. Nor does broadcaster the SABC seem to be interested in the sport which it once profiled magnificently through all its radio stations and television for many years until 2010.
The boxing fraternity says it is embarrassing that a sporting nation like SA will not have boxers at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. This is after thensport minister Fikile Mbalula injected R10m into the sport in 2017 which was aimed at producing boxers for both the Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast Australia in 2018 and the 2020 Tokyo and Japan Olympics, which will now take place next year.
Problems began in 2016 when SA had no boxing representatives at the Rio Olympics that year. It was the first time since SA was readmitted to international competition that it had no boxers in the global showpiece.
If the amateur ranks are not given attention then the future certainly is bleak for the pro ranks.
Responding to a list of questions about the plans for boxing, the ministry said: “We are aware of the challenges that SA National Amateur Boxing Organisation
(Sanabo) has but we are also encouraged by the interim structure that is now in place led by Siyabulela Mkhwalo. There are also engagements between Sanabo and Boxing SA, looking into the challenges at hand but most importantly mapping a way forward to turn the tide.
“We are confident that given just a little bit of more time and support professional boxing will reclaim its glory days.”
The ministry found comfort in the fact that development tournaments still take place through some promoters in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western cape and Limpopo.
“We have to acknowledge this,” chief director, marketing and communications Mickey Modisane, said. “What is lacking is the marketing and coverage of these tournaments. Just in the last financial year there were 18 development tournaments sanctioned compared to 12 national and or international tournaments, but visibility is on the known and established boxers.”
He added that there was a programme to address some challenges around women’s participation in boxing.
“This is not going to immediately address all the existing problems but it is a step in the right direction and what will be key to its success is consistency in developing the programme and having clearly outlined frequent activities. The focus on women boxing only in August as a Women’s Month activity is something we need to change.
“Women boxing must be promoted just as male boxing is,” he said. “BSA has initiated discussions with SABC and we want to give these engagements a chance to develop and we will support BSA in their plans and intervene when needed but it is best to understand SABC’s plans currently, especially now that there is a new general manager of sport in office.”
On the appointment of a permanent CEO of BSA, he said: “It is the responsibility of the board of BSA. The current board has made an acting appointment (Cindy Nkomo, after the resignation of Tsholofeklo Lejaka last month). We can check with the recruitment process or they are going to wait for the new board to do it.”
Sport, arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa is expected to appoint the sevenmember board of BSA in December.