Revered boxing trainer Siyabulela Makala has described his charge Ayabonga Meko as the new face of amateur boxing after the 18-year-old won a gold medal at the African Youth Games in Namibia at the weekend.
Meko, from KwaNonjoli (Somerset East), was one of nine boxers who made the SA team to compete at the games involving 10 countries.
Some of the fighters were forced to withdraw for various reasons, including flu and weight issues but Meko kept the SA flag flying with an impressive run en route to the finals.
He was one of four SA boxers to qualify for the medal podium, along with Oyisa Wanga, who fought in the 63.5kg category, and two women — Lisolethu Tomsana and Mpilenhle Mokaye.
Meko, who had blitzed his opponents with ruthless stoppages, continued his remarkable knockout streak when he bludgeoned Zimbabwean Mqheli Moyo in two rounds in the semifinals of their 57kg clash.
Wanga also qualified via a points win over Sandro Bernardo of Angola.
Tomsana lost in the final to Zambia’s Janifer Zulu in the 48kg, while Mokaye did likewise to another Zambian adversary, Mevis Tembo, in the 57kg.
As the games reached the final stage, Meko, who was already guaranteed a medal, faced Lesotho’s Mvokelelo Snyman, with Wanga battling for gold against local hero Abed Shaningwa.
The SA boys romped to victory in style when Meko needed just one round to destroy Snyman, while Wanga prevailed on points to help the SA team win two gold medals.
Makala, whose amateur boys are invading the SA teams, said he did not doubt that Meko would return from Namibia with the honours.
“This boy is the goods and so ruthless is he that we gave him the “Skorobho” (cleaner) moniker because he makes sure he cleans out the opposition,” he said.
Another of Makala’s boxers, Masibulele Sigwela, is celebrating winning a gold medal at the SA national championships in Pretoria a fortnight ago.
In a unique twist, Sigwela beat his gym-mate at Makala’s Modern Boxing Club, Asali Kwetani.
So action-packed was the bout that it was voted as the best of the tournament — a rare accolade for a club at a national championship.
Makala is best known for guiding Nxarhuni boxer Zolisa Batyi to four SA featherweight title defences — despite his average boxing technique — before he surrendered the belt to KwaZulu-Natal’s Lindelani Sibisi in May.
The trainer promised to unleash other boxing gems from his stable.
“People are yet to see the best of my boys in the ring, but the exploits of Sigwela, Kwentani and now Meko are an indication of what is in store.”
Daily Dispatch
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