LIMPOPO – With the goal of becoming a pioneer to break down barriers that hold women back, Mashudu is optimistic to help promote boxing.

She started her journey in the boxing ring in 2015 after she was recruited by a former boxing star, Paul Masindi. Mashudu said she is driven to help women in what is considered to be a male-dominated sport, and therefore started her organisation, Nzhelele Women Sports Promoters in 2016, to assist and promote women in this sport.

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She said she will always be grateful to Masindi as he pushed her to only deliver the best of her ability. “Masindi used to encourage me to focus on my strength, and to never give up on anything, to believe in myself and when I fail to not lose hope, but to rather learn from it and start over, wiser than before, because of the lesson I learned.’’ Mashudu said there is no doubt that she will continue to make huge strides in the world of boxing.

“Limpopo has an abundance of talent when it comes to boxing. We must nurture and promote them to achieve greater heights, so that we can galvanise the future of boxing. In the province we have very few champions, so let’s support them and raise the flag high,” Mashudu said. The aim of her organisation is to develop young people in the rural areas to keep them involved in a positive way and to prevent them from abusing drugs and liquor.

She said that her role model was her mother, “who worked so hard and sacrificed so much to ensure that I receive a proper education” “She taught me the social graces in life, principles and values, and had a true never-say-die attitude.”

Nekokwane said her ambition in life is to make a meaningful contribution towards the development of the South African youth, to make the world a better place and to live in a world with healthy and happy people. Her aim is to improve the state of women sport in South Africa, especially in the rural areas, she concluded.

capvoice@nmgroup.co.za