Veteran boxers reminisce

The East Rand Veterans Boxing Association (ERVBA) celebrated its 26th year in existence, at the Primrose Bowling Club, on Saturday.

“The club was established in 1989 and it has been going from strength to strength,” said the association’s chairman, Nigel Pera.

“We try to assist as many former boxers as possible.

“Among other things, we help with medical, rental, electricity and funeral costs.

“We really try to help where we can.

“We are one of the three associations in the country, there is one in Pretoria and another in Durban.

“We are actually the youngest association; the Durban group was formed in 1968 and then, years later, the one in Pretoria followed. On August 9, 1989, ERVBA came to life.”

The members of the association meet every month at the Primrose Bowling Club.

“We have meetings every second Thursday of the month,” said the association’s public relations officer, Willie Stols.

“We usually have a guest speaker at our meetings and, afterwards, we talk about boxing with refreshments.”

Among those present was Charlemagne Sam, also known as Charl.

Sam was Alberton’s first Springbok, in 1958, at the British Empire Commonwealth Games in Wales.

He was a boxer for 18 years and is one of the founders of ERVBA.

“We would like to see every province in the country have a veteran boxing association,” he said.

Dinwiddie resident Jaap van Nieuwenhuizen also attended the celebration.

Van Nieuwenhuizen is one of the oldest and most highly recommended boxing referees in the country.

“I started as an amateur referee in 1979 and became a professional referee in 1988, and I am still going hard at it,” he explained.

“I love my job, I have always wanted to be a referee.

“I love this sport and the boxers; they are actually humble people as, after every fight, they shake hands and they are friends.

“I am also a judge; it really is great to work with people with good sportsmanship.

“In boxing you make friends and not enemies.

“Thank you to all the boxing supporters and to my wife, Rieka, for always being by my side, she is at every tournament.”

Pera also thanked the two sponsors of the event’s raffle prizes.

“Thank you to Mug and Bean at East Rand Mall and Al-Italiana Foods in Boksburg for sponsoring us with two vouchers each for our fund-raising raffle,” he said.

“We just want to have fun and keep the boxing memories alive.

“I love the sport, I also love the current boxers and also respect those who have been in it for years.

“We are looking forward to 26 more years of growth and prosperity.”

To join the association, or for more information, visit the website at www.ervba.co.za, or send an email to eastrandveterans@gmail.com.

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