HERMANUS – Overstrand Whale Boxing Club coach Mzi Damesi is over the moon after one of his boxers qualified to be part of the SA Boxing Team B.
Siphamandla Damesi’s remarkable performance last weekend during the trials held in KZN means he might stand a chance to be selected for the national team, which will travel to the Zone 4 Boxing Tournament in Angola in March.
Boxers from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Angola, Zambia and Lesotho will compete in this tournament.
Damesi says he is “100% confident” Siphamandla will do well. “He is in great form, not 100% yet, but we will train more intensively in the coming weeks.”
The Damesis, coach Mzi and Siphamandla, and Cassandra Mbatha of the Overstrand Whale Boxing Club, along with Sidney Ntantiso and Buyile Xhala of the Villiersdorp Open Rural Boxing Academy, were part of the Western Cape provincial team that participated in the trials.
In his first match Siphamandla beat his opponent with a knockout. He didn’t have much time to rest before taking on his next opponent in the 67 kg division, but lost 3-2. “This means three of the five judges favoured his opponent,” Mzi explains.
Mbatha lost all her fights, although Mzi believes this helped her gain valuable experience.
Mzi and his boxers are hard at work preparing for the provincial championships, which take place in May, and the national championships in July.
“I am 100% sure Siphamandla will reach the nationals and do well,” he said.
Mzi expressed his sincere gratitude to EMS Foundation for its continued support.