Fourteen boxers of the Overstrand Whale Boxing Club scored big when they brought gold medals from the interprovincial championships held in Mossel Bay at the end of May.
“All 14 of my boxers who took part won gold and Hlalanathi Jumbile won the title of Best Female Cadet Boxer,” said an ecstatic coach Mzi Damesi.
A total of 21 boxing clubs from across the country travelled to Mossel Bay to participate in the championship from 25-26 May.
This tournament followed shortly after OWBC’s success in Du Noon when 12 cadets brought home gold. This tournament, said OWBC coach Mzi Damesi, served as preparation for the interprovincial boxing championships held in Mossel Bay.
Two OWBC cadets also won silver, while one cadet lost the fight. “All three girls who participated won their fights,” Mzi reported.
Mzi and the club’s star boxer Siphamandla Damesi recently headed to Durban for the inaugural Mandela African Cup that was held from 15 to 21 April at the International Convention Centre in Durban. More than 350 boxers from 41 countries competed in 12 women’s and 13 men’s weight categories. Mzi was one of the two coaches for Team South Africa while Siphamandla represented Team SA for the first time in his boxing career in the 67 kg category.
“Siphamandla won his first fight against an Ethiopian boxer but lost his fight against a boxer from the Congo in the second round,” said coach Mzi. He added that none of the South African boxers bagged gold.
“Thank you to the South African National Boxing Organisation and EMS Foundation for making this dream come true. Without you none of this would be possible,” he concluded.
