The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) handed over official national team colours to a team of mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes on 11 June.
One such athlete was Sunninghill-based Bokang Masunyane, the MMA athlete who was featured in the Sandton Chronicle article, Fighting for a Future.
This martial arts enthusiast began his life as an orphan and has always dreamed of becoming a successful sportsman. After receiving his national colours, Masunyane has stepped closer to achieving his goals.
Masunyane said, “This is a dream come true and I have always wanted to become a professional fighter since I was a young boy in the orphanage. I have moved from wrestling to mixed martial arts and am growing from strength to strength in the sport. I cannot wait for America.”
Sports manager of the national team, Jason van Schalkwyk said, “The team consists of wrestling champions and amateur MMA champions between the ages of 19 and 40. The athletes will leave for the world championships in Las Vegas on 2 July and will return on 12 July. The trip coincides with the Ultimate Fighting Championships fight week.”
Van Schalkwyk said that this is the third time that South Africa was sending a team to the World MMA Championships. “The face of the team is Masunyane, the amateur flyweight champion at Fightstars.”
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