It looks like another year without the recognition of awards from Boxing SA (BSA) due to the ongoing lockdown and restrictions.
“Two years ago, an awards event was always about celebration and recognition, nowadays it’s much more significant than that. Boxing people who are paying in blood, sweat and tears deserve to be acknowledged,” said renowned boxing promoter Tshele Kometsi, who is also the chair of the Gauteng Boxing Promoters' Association (GBPA).
Kometsi has been in boxing as a promoter for almost six years, but his general association with the fistic sport goes as far back as the time he has spent on Earth, as a third-generation boxing man in his family.
“It’s in my DNA,” he explained. “My grandfather was a boxer and his only son, who is my uncle, Malifetsane Ngatane, also boxed before becoming a top boxing administrator.”
Ngatane served the sport as chair of all previous and current national boxing associations.
When Kometsi was asked about what he thought would be a possible solution to raise morale and acknowledge boxers and those in service of the sport, he said: “An ideal solution would be for provinces to stage their own provincial awards next year, leading up to the next big boxing awards at a national level.
“These awards can be hosted by provincial promoters' associations who can approach local private and public sector sponsors in their respective provinces. People don’t need to travel, and no-one knows better in a province who the unsung heroes are than those working at promoting professional boxing in their own backyards.”
Kometsi took up the role of GBPA chair last year. Some of his successes include leading the promoters' association to its first conference, held in January, facilitating sponsorships for boxers' licences and medicals during lockdown, and hosting an event to honour boxing veterans.
“Collective support and encouragement from your peers add momentum and build confidence. Our boxing licensees need it – we need to get awards done, even if we do it differently this year. Boxers like Ludumo Lamati, Azinga Fuzile, Thulani Mbenge, Prince Dlomo and Ryno Liebenberg have fought their hearts out. Let's not overlook them, lockdown or not,” Kometsi added.
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