The Ekurhuleni Boxing Tournament will be conducted at the Springs Bert Collins Boxing Club, on Saturday and the team members believe that they are going to do well.
Team captain Bongani Sikhosana says that have trained hard for this, are prepared for the tournament and plan to come back victorious.
Situated in Extension Five of Tsakane, the club was formed in May 2014 with only six members at the time, shares coach Lwazi Xundu.
And though numbers have slightly declined due to lack of facilities, Xundu emphasises that what makes them stand out in the township is that they specialise in fitness.
“We ensure that our boxers are mentally and physically fit before they go to fights, hence we do well in tournaments.
“The aim of starting this club was to bring change in the community and find ways to decrease crime among our youth, because through this sport they are able to grow and become disciplined, which makes it rare for them to fall into the trap of taking part in wrongful activities.
“Thus far I am pleased with the team and it’s been great watching our boxers grow, as we have done well in all the tournaments we have participated in,” he says.
Xundu adds that some of the challenges they face is shortage of equipment and facilities in the area, hence he urges the municipality to look into developing boxing facilities in Tsakane.
“We also have parents who discourage their children from participating in the sport due to fear of it being dangerous, but we ask for their support and to let young people come, as boxing is like any other sport.
“Currently we have about 15 to 18 members, but we believe that we will still have bigger facilities hence we encourage other aspiring boxers, boys and girls, to come and join us, as through this we are also promoting a healthy lifestyle,” he says.
Boxers at the club practise from Monday to Friday, 4pm to 5.30pm, at Tsakane 15819 Mbombela Street in Extension Five and anyone from eight years old to 40 years old is welcome.
For more information on the club contact Xundu on 073 979 1581.
