On a weekend celebrating International Women’s Day, the SA women’s boxing team had nothing to celebrate as they were stuck in Johannesburg unable to fly to the World Women’s Championships in Serbia.
The team, consisting of eight boxers selected from the national boxing trials held in East London in February, were due to fly out to Serbia for the games that started on Wednesday and will run until next Monday.
They are led by trailblazing East London woman official Noluvuyo Joxo as one of the two coaches with KwaZulu-Natal’s Nkosinathi Hlatshwayo.
The team are made up of boxers Phiwokuhle Mnguni, whose selection in the 48kg category sparked controversy when she came in overweight, Ntandoyenkosi Ncube, Thandolwethu Mathiba, Asihlobisane Hobongwana, Imitha Mkala, Esona Peter, Thabisile Cimi and Samkelisiwe Ncube.
However, when the team arrived in Johannesburg, they were caught up in a logistical nightmare, including visa challenges which delayed their departure.
Sanabo’s Lwandiso Kwababana confirmed that the structure was still trying to resolve the issue with the International Boxing Association (IBA) which is organising the championships in association with the Serbian Boxing Federation.
“The problem is being handled by Sanabo with the IBA internally and more information will be released once Sanabo membership has been officially informed,” he said.
However, Kwababana could not say if the team would still fly to the championships and join other nations midway.
The fiasco comes hot on the heels of Sanabo taking a battering for failing to send its new team to the Zone Four Championships in Mozambique last week.
The structure had planned to send its new team to Maputo to gain international experience, having already informed boxers and ring officials to prepare for the trip.
The event coincided with the grading courses for officials, with many looking forward to empowering themselves in the latest methods of the IBA manuals.
However, they were left high and dry with no word from Sanabo on why the trip failed to materialise despite some having taken time off from their daily jobs.
Sanabo said the trip was cancelled due to several boxers failing to bring passports.
Facing soaring financial challenges, Sanabo appealed to the IBA to fund the trip to Serbia, including a request to foot the accommodation bill and meals, with the boxers hoping to benefit from the lucrative prizes on offer.
Though team officials refused to comment on the matter, fearing reprisal, the fiasco is flying in the face of the treatment of women on a weekend several sporting events were held to celebrate their day.
Tournaments celebrating International Women’s Day were held across the world, with the Eastern Cape hosting an event at the Nangoza Jebe Hall in Gqeberha dominated by women boxers.
Daily Dispatch
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