Siphamandla Damesi of the Overstrand Whale Boxing Club has done it again, bagging gold at the Sanabo National Boxing Championships.
He was the only boxer out of more than 30 in the provincial team to have won gold at this prestigious event.
Damesi together with Athi Damesi, Siyakholwa Nxanti and Lukho Mcwarandile from OWBC participated in the National Boxing Tournament held in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) from 5-10 July. They were part of the Western Cape Provincial Team with Mzi Damesi from Zwelihle as head coach.
Mzi described the tournament as “very tough” with “strong competitors”. “The paramedics were kept busy with boxers who suffered injuries,” he stated.
Despite the tough competition, the OWBC boxers did well with Damesi who won gold and Nxanti bronze.
Last year, Siphamandla won bronze at the national tournament and Nxanti brought home silver. According to Mzi this was the fourth time Siphamandla had won gold at the nationals.
He said none of this would have been possible without the support of the EMS Foundation, which sponsored the boxers’ accommodation, meals, transport, tracksuits, training shoes and bags. “I want to thank the EMS Foundation, for without it we are nothing,” said Mzi. He also thanked Elizabeth Steyn and Michele Pickover from EMS Foundation, the Burnley Football Club in the UK, Wells Boxing Club in the UK, Carol Dodds and Dave Worral, Woolworths Hermanus and all their supporters. “Thanks to the parents of the boxers for trusting us with their children,” he added.