Mayibuye-based Mohlwadibona Boxing Club held its annual tournament at the Rabie Ridge Community Hall on 6 May.
Almost 30 boxers from the age of eight years to 35 years old took part in the tournament.
The club was founded by Rose Makgetha who opened a boxing gym in the garage of her house in March 2015. She said her love for boxing and growing up under the inspiration of the likes of the late ‘Baby Jake’ Matlala and Dingaan Thobela led her to start her own boxing club.
“I grew up loving the sport although there weren’t any opportunities for females but I would stay up until late at night to watch matches,” she said.
Makgetha said she derives pleasure in seeing children and young people dedicating themselves to the sport instead of committing crimes and indulging in drugs.
“I’m proud that today we have one of our members, Thabiso Mashaba qualified as a professional boxer, who received his licence in March. I wish to see many of our boxers playing at professional level,” she said and pleaded to the public to support the club with gym resources and means of transport.
“The only problem we are experiencing is the lack of resources and funds because many children are from disadvantaged backgrounds and cannot afford most of the things. Our gym is still growing and requires more resources for our boxers,” she said.
