Mokaila's greatest honour

NORTH West civil servant Sylvia Mokaila has described her appointment as a judge of the IBF mini-flyweight title between champion Nkosinathi Joyi and Japan's Katsunari Takayama tonight as a great honour.

"It is one of the biggest achievements for me, considering that I'm the only South African woman judge," said Mokaila yesterday.

The Department of Sports and Culture's administrative clerk was speaking in the eve of the big clash billed for the Orient Theatre in East London.

"I always prefer to keep a low profile, but I can tell you that the Joyi-Takayama fight is just one of the many major world title fights I have served as a judge.

"I have always been the Mafikeng, North West, South Africa and the continent's sole woman representative, serving my nation with aplomb."

Commenting on the initial objections by the Japanese camp of her appointment to the panel of judges, which was subsequently withdrawn, Mokaila said: "I know both camps very well, I was not surprised they withdrew, because they know that I do not compromise when it comes to fair play.

"I was appointed judge by the IBF, in the past I used to officiate at WBC events. It feels good to fly the South African flag at major boxing tournaments in the world.

"Any boxer who has done his homework will win," said Mokaila, who was influenced by his father Nthutang Mokaila to pursue a career as a boxing judge.

"My father used to be a boxer, we used to go watch him train and fight in Mafikeng.

"He ended up in the amateur ranks, which is when I was introduced to the great Norman "Pangaman" Sekgapane.

"Pangaman was one of the greatest South African boxers of his time. He is now a pensioner in Mafikeng and is still my hero."

Mokaila said she wanted to become a boxer but was not allowed to follow her heart because of the laws governing the sport at the time.

"Women were not allowed to box in South Africa, women who came after the laws were changed like Noni Tenge are very lucky," she added.