Eastern Cape boxing stakeholders are up in arms over the order that their associations can only send two delegates each to the Boxing SA bosberaad to be held at the East London International Convention Centre on Thursday and Friday.
The gathering, which will be addressed by sports minister Gayton McKenzie, marking the first time he attends a boxing event in the province as a minister, has reportedly attracted more than 200 guests, many from the corporate sector.
The event will also see the new BSA board members meet boxing stakeholders for the first time in person since McKenzie appointed them in December.
However, the bone of contention has been the limited seats allocated to the associations of provincial licensees such as managers, trainers and promoters, who have been told they can only send two delegates each.
The chair of the managers’ and trainers’ association, Thembisile Mjele, confirmed that the order from the BSA provincial office took them by surprise, especially as they had played a crucial role in convincing the structure to come to the province to meet stakeholders in person.
“We have been pleading with the board, even the previous one, to physically come down to meet stakeholders instead of relying on these virtual meetings,” he said.
“The Eastern Cape is a vast province with a rural component where [internet] network [connectivity] is often a challenge, so these virtual meetings fall short in addressing boxing issues.
“So you can imagine how happy we were when we learnt that our cries of a boxing gathering had been answered.”
But the bubble burst when they were informed that only two delegates would be accepted from the association, along with stringent requirements.
“These two delegates must have a racial and geographical component and you can imagine how hard that would be in a big province such as ours,” he said.
The provincial promoters’ association’s secretary, Sibongile Matiti, said the structure had written to BSA requesting that it reconsider the move.
This after learning that the same order applied to all the provinces that would be attending.
“We are hosts and as such we should be allowed to have a bigger delegation,” she said.
Mjele said provincial stakeholders did not need to be provided with accommodation and meals, as would other attendees.
“All we want is to be there to discuss boxing challenges and go home afterwards.”
BSA acting chief executive Tsholofelo Lejaka confirmed receiving correspondence from the Eastern Cape managers’ and promoters’ association for reconsideration.
“We are busy looking at it because there a number of factors to consider when taking such decisions,” he said.
However, by Monday, the provincial boxers’ association was yet to be told whether it would be afforded a platform at the event.
The interim boxers’ association’s chair, Lutho Mbuku, said no invitation from BSA to attend the event had been received as yet.
“I do not know whether they recognise us or not but so far nothing has been extended to us,” he said.
The absence of boxers from the bosberaad, which ends on Friday, would be a huge letdown, after McKenzie had repeatedly highlighted their plight, including meagre purses.
Daily Dispatch
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.