Working to make champions
Tsakane - Charles Mtshali and Lwazi Xunu have collaborated in an effort to turn a group of talented boys into boxing champions.
Mtshali and Xunu met on Friday at Faranani Multi-Purpose Centre to grade boxers who have the potential to compete in regional and provincial championships.
“We were pleasantly surprised by the level of skill that these boys have.
“We didn’t expect this much from them,” says Mtshali.
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He believes that if the young boxers are cultivated and encouraged they can make a living from the sport.
“Our greatest challenge is the parents,” says Xunu.
He says many parents do not support their children’s participation in the sport.
“You will find someone pulling their child out of the club, maybe to punish them, without telling me as the coach.”
Xulu, owner and coach at Total Success Boxing Club in Extension 5, believes parents and coaches should work together, not against each other, to give the youth a better future.
“It’s sad that I have many boys, who would be professionals now, if their parents had allowed me to do my job,” he explains.
• Also read: Local boxers shine at tournament
Mtshali says part of the problem is that the community does not really understand what they do and how they help the children.
He added, “Maybe they think we are bored or have nothing better to do with our time.”
Mtshali and Xunu say they also need support from the government and private sector.
“Sometimes we can’t even go to competitions because we do not have money to transport all the boys.”
“And facilities. We need to train indoors, but we don’t have places to do so,” says Xunu.
