Sporting personalities have plenty of advice for incoming government

The adage “sport and politics don’t mix” was disproved by well-known Eastern Cape athletes on Wednesday when they cast their ballots in the hope of influencing the next administration.

Former two-weight world boxing champion Zolani Tete, accompanied by his manager Mla Tengimfene, stood in line for an hour to vote at the NU12 community hall in Mdantsane.

Tete called on the incoming government to fix sporting facilities and financially assist boxing in the Eastern Cape to produce more world champions.

“We have very few boxing tournaments here in the province, which shouldn’t happen because all around the world the province is known for boxing.

“The government must support boxing financially so that more boxers can be unearthed, so we get boxers in major title fights all around the world.”

Tete’s sentiments were shared by his manager, who said the reason SA boxers did not do well in their overseas fights was the small government budget allocated to the sport.

Another world boxing champion, Welcome Ncita, voted at Beaconhurst School in Beacon Bay.

Ncita urged the new government to appoint sports experts to cabinet positions, as he believed sport’s lack of progress was due to inexperienced individuals overseeing sporting bodies.

“Me and Vuyani Bungu [another world boxing champion] are boxing ambassadors in Buffalo City.

“The amount of influence we have brought in some decisions has benefited our boxers.

“Imagine if in all sporting codes around the province, former athletes were involved within structures, the province would be far ahead.”

Former Bafana Bafana manager Zola Dunywa, who is a member of the SA Football Association national executive committee, voted at Mzomhle High School.

Enhancing sports facilities in the Eastern Cape was his priority.

Thobile Mtya, a South African rugby icon, voted in Kwelera, having lived through both the apartheid and democratic eras as a player and administrator.

He called for the resurrection of school sports and development projects, saying they were now non-existent in the province.

“Grassroots development and school sports are dead. To meet transformation targets, we need to revive those, to get more black athletes playing at the top.”

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