Still early rounds in Dube Boys Club saga
FOUNDER members of the famed Dube Boys Club in Soweto will be given a hearing by the sports ministry regarding the proposed establishment of a boxing academy within the gym.
Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula said the academy – the first of its kind in the country – would be named after Jacob “Baby Jake” Matlala, the late former world champion, who started and ended his illustrious career at the establishment.
“All stakeholders will be given a hearing,” said Mbalula’s spokesman Paena Galane yesterday.
Galane was responding to questions regarding comments by co-founder Steve Masike that if Mbalula wanted to honour Matlala by establishing an academy named after the former four-time world champion, he was more than welcome – but not at the expense of the legacy of the Dube Boys Club.
Masike was reacting to the official unveiling last week of a “Plaque of Hope” in honour of Matlala by Mbalula and boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather at the establishment.
“There is no way that the gym will be renamed after Matlala. Over my dead body,” said a furious Masike. “If the name of this gym is to change at all then it can be named after Theo Mthembu [a fellow founder member].”
Galane said there was no crisis.
“If they [founder members] have an objection, then we will sit down with them and listen. But the building belongs to Johannesburg Metro. The mayor [Parks Tau] and provincial MEC for sport [Lebogang Maile] are aware of our plans to establish an academy,” said Galane.
Mbalula made the promise to honour Matlala with an academy named after him during the boxer ’ s funeral.
Mbalula raised about R800 000 from an auction of sports memorabilia at a gala dinner attended by Mayweather at Emperors Palace on Friday night. The minister said some of the proceeds would go towards establishing the academy.
Promoter Mxolisi Gumede, a former lightweight champion, welcomed the idea of an academy to honour Matlala, who he described as a national hero.