Football Without Borders began the year on the right foot with a few new additions to the initiative.
Founder of the organisation, Michael Mapfunde had been in negotiations with Golagong Education Outreach, an NGO in Zandspruit to organise a more central location to hold boxing practice, and it was approved last month.
Thanks to the new space, boxing practice is held every weekday and new coaches have joined the programme. Each practice has become popular in the community and now they need more equipment. “We expected around seven children but we always have around 15,” said Mapfunde.
The new boxing coaches, Moeketsi Wanzi and Dan Ntsabo bring a wealth of knowledge to the table with their boxing experience. Wanzi began boxing in 1989 and participated in 411 fights and only lost 16. Wanzi did not have the opportunity to turn professional so he uses his experience to teach the youth. “The experience I have can turn young, up-and-coming boxers into professionals and make their dreams comes true. I am ready to bring out the future Baby Jakes and Rose of Zandspruit,” he said.
Ntsabo started boxing in 1978 when he was 15. In 1987 he gained much boxing experience through people such as Steaker Mbitse, Tera Peter Matebula and Aladin Steven, who all encouraged him on his boxing journey.
He retired after sustaining an injury in 1993 but he began training boys in 2006 in the Zandspruit community. The major challenges Ntsabo faced was a lack of equipment and a lack of interest.
He joined Football Without Borders as they were doing good work in the community. “I get hurt when I see young boys in the community who don’t have positive role models and most of them are smoking nyaope or are involved in anti-social behaviour,” said Ntsabo.
Football Without Borders is forever moving forward and Mapfunde plans to recruit students studying public health and children’s needs and development, to visit the children once a month to teach life skills and self-esteem.
