In isiXhosa, there is a popular saying that “akukho nkanga idubula ingethi” which can be loosely translated to mean “Nothing good lasts forever”.
But when it comes to the Queenstown Boys’ Boxing Club, nothing can be further from the truth.
While many boxing gyms in and around the Eastern Cape have faded into obscurity over the years, Komani’s first ever boxing gymnasium is still going strong after more than a century.
QBBC celebrated 106 years of existence on March 15. Former professional boxer-turned-trainer Mabhuti Mapeyi, who has been running the gym in Mlungisi township and has mentored hordes of upcoming boxers for nearly 24 years, attributed QBBC’s staying power to the genuine love for boxing from the trainer to the young boxers involved in the sport.
“We love what we do here,” he said.
“You won’t believe that even after, say a tournament on a Saturday, you will find these children in my house early on Sunday and we are busy discussing how the fights went. They just ooze passion for the sport. This club is not just your normal boxing gym, it is like a legacy project that has been passed down from generation to generation,” he said.
Though details about how the club was formed are a bit sketchy, Mapeyi revealed it had initially been named Queenstown Bantu Boxing Club when it was formed. Two men, social worker Victor Buhlani and teacher John Solomon Baduza are credited as the founders, he said.
“They were not boxers but were heavily involved in the entertainment scene in Komani back then. They introduced boxing but at the time it was not something that was serious. However, the sport grew over time.”
Though it existed for 16 years before that, QBBC was officially launched as a boxing club in 1934, Mapeyi said. It operated out of the famous Mallet Hall in Mlungisi Township for years before it was given its current building by the Moravian church.
Apart from just being the oldest club in the area, it was also the first to produce a professional boxer in the form of Allister Mahashe in the 1950s and the area’s first champion in Siphiwo Fuma, who won a Cape title in 1980. It was also renowned to have produced great amateur boxers such as Kho Tywakadi and Booi Khoza, who both won gold medals during a national tournament in the then-Western Transvaal in 1975.
Mahashe also reportedly popularised the sport of boxing in areas such as East London where he helped open the International Boxing Club in Duncan Village. Other illustrious talent that passed through the doors of QBBC include former Cape champ Xolani Kemka, Thoza Guga,Tonotono Ralane, Michael Manzi, Kholekile Kamte and Linda Zondani.
“QBBC has a huge history and legacy. That is why quitting is never an option,” Mapeyi said. He however admitted that running the gymnasium with limited resources was a struggle. Mapeyi serves as the secretary of the Chris Hani Amateur Boxing Organisation. To celebrate its 106th birthday, the club hosted a huge tournament in Komani.
Mapeyi said they were grateful to the government for its support especially in the last five years. This after the Eastern Cape department of sports introduced a club development programme where each gymnasium was supported with equipment and other resources for at least two years. Despite its name, the club also has female boxers on its books. Currently it has a total of 36 boxers, with the youngest being only 11 and the oldest, around 25.
He said the gymnasium provided a sanctuary for talented youngsters as it kept them away from the streets and other social ills. They are not only taught boxing skills but are also empowered with life skills at the gym to enable them to make better choices in life. Four of Mapeyi’s protégés — Thimna Nteta, Sinako Malilwana, Olwam Mala and Aviwe Matini turned professional in March this year.
“I am busy selling them to promoters. We are convinced that one of them will become a champion, God willing,” he said.
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