Harry Ramogoadi-Manaka, owner of VIP Boxing Academy in Benoni CBD, and boxing champ Vuyani Bungu have joined forces to open satellite gyms all over South Africa to share their knowledge and training with as many people, especially youth, in South Africa.
The gym also assists in housing and feeding some of their boxers. Their main focus is to attend to the less fortunate by giving them something to work towards and to give the unemployed a way to produce an income by providing them with all they need to succeed as a boxer, Ramogoadi-Manaka explained.
“Boxing is a poor man’s sport, but it takes you out of poverty.”
“I have seen boxers come into the gym that are not able to train due to having not eaten for two or more days, so we house them and feed them and assist them with working towards a goal.”
On November 4 many of the boxers who are housed and fed at the gym, as well as boxers who don’t reside at the gym but do attend for the skill sets, were seen training and being coached by a few trainers, such as Vuyani Bungu.
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When asked what their next step will be to reaching their goal, Ramogoadi-Manaka said: “We want to lay a foundation and platform for not only less fortunate children but children and adults who have dreams to become the next Vuyani Bungu.”
The first satellite gym they will be opening will be in East London, with Bungu heading it up.
“I am not doing this for me anymore, I am not doing this for my family anymore, I am doing this for my country,” said Bungu.
The academy’s main focus may be to develop and produce champions, but Ramogoadi-Manaka and Bungu have a more prominent project in mind.
They want to involve the Department of Education and open boxing schools which will provide children with a platform to not only become the next Bungu but to also receive a well-structured education to assist them in achieving bright futures.
“You need to develop the mind before you can develop your physical,” Ramogoadi-Manaka said.
“Not everyone is fortunate enough to have food and a roof over their head.
“Our academy aspires to change this by providing a safe place for children from the streets to develop the skills to achieve the best boxing careers they can and to be the best people they can be.”
Ramogoadi-Manaka, who fought for the Commonwealth title and won the British Masters title in his career, has always had a passion for boxing.
It was earlier this year that he first met boxing legend and champion Vuyani Bungu and they clicked.
Realising how much they have in common and how far they both were willing to go to bring boxing out of its shell and into the public, they decided to collaborate on their next venture.
“I have seen enough – too many children are being lost to crime and drugs, it’s time for a change,” he said.
For more information contact Ramogoadi-Manaka on 087 898 4949 or at sales@vipboxingacademy.co.za
