Boxers pressure Mthwethwa over new board
Ex-pugilists call for inclusion when minister names BSA bosses
Pressure from the boxing sector on sports minister Nathi Mthethwa is mounting for him to consider former professional boxers when he assembles a seven-member committee to serve as BSA board members. The term for the current board ends in December.
Mthethwa’s office will issue nomination forms to licensees to exercise their right of nominating individuals they prefer to serve on the seven-member board of BSA.
A source within the sports ministry who asked for anonymity said that was news to them.
But licensees, on the other hand, are forging ahead with the nomination of their preferred candidates.
Eastern Cape Boxing Promoters Association chairperson Thando Zonke has already advised his colleagues in writing to begin the process of nominating.
Now successful yet unheralded boxing trainer Zola Koti from Khayelitsha in the Western Cape says the boxing fraternity in his province has nominated retired former SA lightweight and junior welterweight champion Nika “The Sting” Khumalo to be considered when Mthethwa announces the new order.
“We feel the time is now that former boxers are involved in the administration of our beloved boxing,” said Koti a former pro boxer who
Mzonke “Rose of Khayelitsha guided”homeboy Fana to prosperity by winning the IBF junior lightweight title twice.
“We have already approached Nika and Andile Ndevu [former amateur boxer] regarding presenting their names for consideration to be on the board of BSA.
They are available. We feel strongly that former boxers will bring change in every aspect of the game.
There are many roles they can play like being part of the ratings and sanctioning committee. Their input can also impact positively when it comes to amateur boxers graduating to the professional ranks.”
He warned that BSA cannot rely on provincial managers to conduct sparring sessions for gradation because most of them never boxed. But the truth is that Mickey Klaas (Western Cape), Oupa Lubisi (Mpumalanga), Lehlohonolo Ramagole (Gauteng), Mzolisa Mabuya (Free State) and Nceba Dladla (Port Elizabeth) are former boxers.
Khumalo, from Langa in Cape Town, is the vastly experienced former boxer who chalked up 39 wins from 48 fights.
He served as executive member of Langa Sports Council when he was still a director at the Nika Khumalo Boxing Academy. He says a huge percentage of BSA’s budget should be based on the development of the sport.
“Covid-19 has made the whole world change drastically and I think development of immediate training courses should be immediately done to train our legends to help facilitate training in local clubs,” he said.