Youngest woman tasked with promoting boxing wants to make a difference.
YOUNG, dynamic and intelligent are the words that spring to mind on meeting East London’s youngest female boxing promoter, Andiswa Madikane.
Madikane, the first woman executive member of the Eastern Cape Boxing Promoters Association has, at the tender age of 22, already been working as a boxing promoter for a year.
“It’s tough, but I do it because I want to make a difference in the sport, and it’s much more effective being in East London, the mecca of boxing,” she said.
Growing up Madikane loved sport, but says all her attempts to participate at school sports were unsuccessful.
“My role in the team was always benchwarmer or watergirl. I guess I was that bad,” she laughed.
A graduate from the University of Fort Hare, she recently completed her LLB degree, a profession which her father, boxing trainer Vuyisile Madikane, dreamed of her pursuing.
So keen on law was Vido, as he is affectionally known, that he joined his daughter in doing the degree.
They both graduated earlier this year.
“It was so weird having my dad as my classmate, but I guess it kept me focused – there was no chance for me to completely relax,” she said.
“You can imagine having your dad in your class, doing assignments together at home. He was always there,” she said.
Vido owns Down Town boxing gym in Quigney and has been active in the sport for many years.
This was also one of the reasons Madikane fell in love with the sport. Having a dad who was passionate about boxing, attending matches with him, rubbed off on her.
“It is a sport with principles and mind power, a sport that instills discipline and I wanted to be a part of it,” she said.
Madikane advocates change in society, and strives to “give back”, promoting development in every way she can. She decided to form TTT Boxing promotions to promote those boxers trained by her dad.
“My first tournament last year was when I was promoter for the Premier Boxing League (PBL). It was a very daunting experience, because until then men had owned boxing,” she said. Madikane was awarded the opportunity by Dicksy Ngqula, founder of the PBL.
The Daily Dispatch spoke to Ngqula about Madikane, who chuckled at the mention of the enthusiastic boxing promoter’s name. “Have you met her?” he asked. “She’s small and looks quiet and timid, but she is real dynamite.
“She was very adamant about empowering young people and suggested a preshow at the boxing event, something to entertain people as they walked into the boxing arena,” he said.
“For now we only have one female boxer in our stable, but we are working on developing more women because boxing may be in men’s hands, but women can own it too,” said Madikane.
She added she would like to see brighter futures for boxers, pointing out that boxers in are often left “broke and forgotten” when their careers end.
“Not only do I promote boxers, but I encourage them to get an education, guide them to spend their money wisely, so they make investments, have life cover, so their financial security is not short-lived,” she said. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Age no factor when setting one’s dreams
YOUNG, dynamic and intelligent are the words that spring to mind on meeting East London’s youngest female boxing promoter, Andiswa Madikane.
Madikane, the first woman executive member of the Eastern Cape Boxing Promoters Association has, at the tender age of 22, already been working as a boxing promoter for a year.
“It’s tough, but I do it because I want to make a difference in the sport, and it’s much more effective being in East London, the mecca of boxing,” she said.
Growing up Madikane loved sport, but says all her attempts to participate at school sports were unsuccessful.
“My role in the team was always benchwarmer or watergirl. I guess I was that bad,” she laughed.
A graduate from the University of Fort Hare, she recently completed her LLB degree, a profession which her father, boxing trainer Vuyisile Madikane, dreamed of her pursuing.
So keen on law was Vido, as he is affectionally known, that he joined his daughter in doing the degree.
They both graduated earlier this year.
“It was so weird having my dad as my classmate, but I guess it kept me focused – there was no chance for me to completely relax,” she said.
“You can imagine having your dad in your class, doing assignments together at home. He was always there,” she said.
Vido owns Down Town boxing gym in Quigney and has been active in the sport for many years.
This was also one of the reasons Madikane fell in love with the sport. Having a dad who was passionate about boxing, attending matches with him, rubbed off on her.
“It is a sport with principles and mind power, a sport that instills discipline and I wanted to be a part of it,” she said.
Madikane advocates change in society, and strives to “give back”, promoting development in every way she can. She decided to form TTT Boxing promotions to promote those boxers trained by her dad.
“My first tournament last year was when I was promoter for the Premier Boxing League (PBL). It was a very daunting experience, because until then men had owned boxing,” she said. Madikane was awarded the opportunity by Dicksy Ngqula, founder of the PBL.
The Daily Dispatch spoke to Ngqula about Madikane, who chuckled at the mention of the enthusiastic boxing promoter’s name. “Have you met her?” he asked. “She’s small and looks quiet and timid, but she is real dynamite.
“She was very adamant about empowering young people and suggested a preshow at the boxing event, something to entertain people as they walked into the boxing arena,” he said.
“For now we only have one female boxer in our stable, but we are working on developing more women because boxing may be in men’s hands, but women can own it too,” said Madikane.
She added she would like to see brighter futures for boxers, pointing out that boxers in are often left “broke and forgotten” when their careers end.
“Not only do I promote boxers, but I encourage them to get an education, guide them to spend their money wisely, so they make investments, have life cover, so their financial security is not short-lived,” she said. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
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