After being stuck in Johannesburg for a few days on their way to the Women’s World Boxing Championships in Serbia, the SA women’s team was finally forced to cancel their trip.
The disappointing outcome signified yet another failed effort by the national amateur boxing body to send its teams to international competitions.
The team of eight boxers, selected at trials held in East London in February, were hoping to test their skills at the International Boxing Association (IBA) championships which started on Wednesday last week and run until Monday.
On a weekend celebrating International Women’s Day, the team had nothing to celebrate as they encountered logistical challenges, including the inability to secure visas.
The team comprised Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Phiwokuhle Mnguni — whose inclusion in the 48kg category sparked controversy after she came overweight in one of her bouts in East London — Ntandoyenkosi Ncube, Thandolwethu Mathiba, Asihlobisane Hobongwana, Imitha Mkala, Esona Peter, Thabisile Cimi and Samkelisiwe Ncube.
It was led by East London women's coach Noluvuyo Joxo and KwaZulu-Natal’s Nkosinathi Hlatshwayo.
The Serbian trip would have been the first time the SA National Boxing Organisation (Sanabo) sent its newly selected team to an international event, having failed to do so at the Zone Four Championships held in Maputo last week.
Having solicited financial assistance from the IBA to help with flights, accommodation and meals during the Serbia championships, Sanabo could not secure visas for the group.
Though it sidestepped questions on the latest fiasco, leaked correspondence confirmed that the trip had been cancelled.
Sanabo’s Lwandiso Kwababana said the boxing body would liaise with provincial members before information could be released to the media.
“The NEC is going to give clarity to this whole issue in due course,” he said.
However, in correspondence sent to its members, seen by the Daily Dispatch, Sanabo said the team had encountered difficulties in securing visas from the Serbian Embassy, leading to the cancellation of the trip.
“The team is disappointed with its inability to travel despite having secured flights and sponsored accommodation and [being] ready for the championships,” the boxing body wrote.
“Sanabo maintained continuous communication with the IBA, embassy, Serbian foreign affairs ministry and Serbian police department regarding the issuing of visas to the team.
“However, these efforts did not yield successful results even though the situation initially appeared promising as it led to renewal of flight tickets on two separate occasions.
“Upon learning that other countries encountered similar challenges it became clear the visas would not be issued.
“Consequently, we made the difficult decision to cancel the trip, having exerted every effort to facilitate the resolution of the matter, which was beyond our control.”
Sanabo said it sympathised with the team, who were hoping to prove their worth on the international stage, having worked hard to prepare for the championships.
Daily Dispatch
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