Breeding boxing stars of the future
According to van den Berg, anybody can become a boxing champion if they put their heart into it.
For a long period boxing in Brakpan went quiet and stagnant.
In March last year, long-time Brakpan Boxing Club chairman and coach Koos van den Berg decided to revive the sport he loves .
Initially, he ran the club from his former Hamilton Avenue house before moving it to the NG Kerk in Brakpan East in May 2016.
The club was based at the Brakpan Indoor Sports Centre for many years, but according to van den Berg, it became too expensive to run the club at the facility.
He would love to see the club return to the centre which he said is ideal for hosting big boxing tournaments.
Van den Berg has been involved in the sport of boxing since 1962.
He boxed until 1983 before becoming a coach, then a referee and then a judge.
Both his sons (Coenie and Cedric) boxed, with the former eventually becoming a South African Champion.
He and the club have also produced some other champions in the form of Ivan Coetzee, Wimpie Labuschagne, Morne Erasmus and Dirkie van den Berg.
“In 10 years we produced 10 national champions in different weight divisions,” said the chairman.
“Hopefully we’ll have another South African champ this year.”
That hope lies in 16-year-old Hoërskool Die Anker learner Chantel Erasmus who recently represented Ekurhuleni at the Gauteng Championships in Alberton where she won a silver medal in the women’s 57kg division.
She will soon raise the Brakpan Boxing Club and the Gauteng flag when she heads to the South African Boxing Championships which will take place in Dundee, Kwa-Zulu Natal between October 3 and 6.
The future star and daughter of former champ Morne has shown great potential since she started training at the club in October, last year.
According to van den Berg, anybody can become a boxing champion if they put their heart into it.
“Heart is the most important thing a boxer must possess,” he added.
“Good training, dedication and the right mind-set will also make you a champion.
“Anybody can fight and throw a punch, but not everyone can do it properly.”
If you would like to learn to do it properly and join the club, contact van den Berg on 083 409 2714 or email him at kvdberg@pg.co.za
Children from the age of six as well as 40-year-old adults are welcome to attend training sessions at the church on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6pm.
Adults over the age of 40 are also welcome to train and get fit at the club, but they do not compete in tournaments.
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