WHEN Mlandeli Tengimfene succumbed to pleas from the Tete brothers – Makazole and Zolani – to look after their boxing careers little did he knew that he would make a major mark in boxing.
In less than 20 months, Tengimfene’s All Winners Boxing Club does not only boast a world champion in Zolani but it stands a chance to add another SA champion to the mix if Lwandisa Zinto wins the vacant national title he will contest against veteran Oscar Chauke at the Mdantsane Indoor Sport Centre this weekend.
Makazole already holds the SA crown after destroying Morris Lento in four rounds in May.
“I really cannot believe how quick things have turned out for me because boxing management was never in my plans,” Tengimfene said.
Like all Mdantsane young boys, Tengimfene could not escape the boxing bug but his schooling prevented him from totally committing to the sport.
His father, who was a headmaster, dissuaded him from boxing and instead steered him towards playing soccer.
Luckily, Tengimfene proved to be adept on the football field culminating in him captaining his school and university teams.
But, like they say, once the boxing bug bites the victim stays bitten.
“When I was working in Johannesburg after graduating from the University of Western Cape, I regularly attended boxing tournaments especially those featuring Masibulele ‘Hawk’ Makhephula because he was my former student,” he recalls.
Makhephula was training at Nick Durandt’s stable in Johannesburg and this made Tengimfene to develop his friendship with Durandt.
When he returned home his relationship with Durandt continued to flourish fuelling allegations that Tengimfene was his agent who recruited Eastern Cape boxers for the Johannesburg trainer.
“Yes I was called Nick’s ‘agent’ but this was all lies,” he vehemently denies.
“I was only friends with Nick and he even offered me a ticket to watch Zolani in Mexico.”
Tengimfene could be seen at tournaments clad in Durandt’s sponsored regalia. “Yes, Nick gave me some of the merchandise and I had no problem wearing it.”
But things would change last June when the Tete brothers as well as Macbute Sinyabi asked him to look after their careers.
This after Makazole, Zolani and Sinyabi had differences with Nick resulting to them bolting his stable and return home.
While the Tete brothers left everything to Tengimfene – such as finding the trainer for them, Sinyabi opted to find a trainer for himself and preferred his family to manage his career.
Tengimfene was left with the Tete brothers and the relationship blossomed leading to Zolani winning the IBF world junior bantamweight crown after Tengimfene decided to retain Branco Milenkovic as a promoter.
Makazole has also realised his immense talent adding the WBA Pan African and IBO International crowns to his SA accomplishment all in a space of eight months.
The achievements of the club has attracted other boxers to join in, including Zinto who will add to its remarkable success if he beats Chauke.
This has been a fairytale run for Tengimfene who was dismissed as a “four rounder” by his peers when he started the club.
“I used to sit there among those boxing fans who sing and chant during tournaments and people underestimated me when I started this club,” Tegimfene recalls.
He has grasped all the tricks from Durandt such as proper conditioning of the boxers.
He is also grateful to local businessman Bruce Butler who generously donated to him the boxing equipment he used in his own gymnasium.
“Bruce gave me the equipment free of charge and said I must just look for space and I am forever grateful to him.”
But is Tengimfene in this for a long haul?
“No no no my Bro,” he said.
“I only got involved in boxing management to help these Tete boys otherwise I do not want to be here for long. In fact if I could get a manager who would be able to take care of them I would get out of this but I will remain a boxing fan for life.”
The 47-year-old comes from a middle class family and his job as the South African Social Security Agency manager takes much of his time to fully commit to boxing.
Tengimfene's X-factor
In less than 20 months, Tengimfene’s All Winners Boxing Club does not only boast a world champion in Zolani but it stands a chance to add another SA champion to the mix if Lwandisa Zinto wins the vacant national title he will contest against veteran Oscar Chauke at the Mdantsane Indoor Sport Centre this weekend.
Makazole already holds the SA crown after destroying Morris Lento in four rounds in May.
“I really cannot believe how quick things have turned out for me because boxing management was never in my plans,” Tengimfene said.
Like all Mdantsane young boys, Tengimfene could not escape the boxing bug but his schooling prevented him from totally committing to the sport.
His father, who was a headmaster, dissuaded him from boxing and instead steered him towards playing soccer.
Luckily, Tengimfene proved to be adept on the football field culminating in him captaining his school and university teams.
But, like they say, once the boxing bug bites the victim stays bitten.
“When I was working in Johannesburg after graduating from the University of Western Cape, I regularly attended boxing tournaments especially those featuring Masibulele ‘Hawk’ Makhephula because he was my former student,” he recalls.
Makhephula was training at Nick Durandt’s stable in Johannesburg and this made Tengimfene to develop his friendship with Durandt.
When he returned home his relationship with Durandt continued to flourish fuelling allegations that Tengimfene was his agent who recruited Eastern Cape boxers for the Johannesburg trainer.
“Yes I was called Nick’s ‘agent’ but this was all lies,” he vehemently denies.
“I was only friends with Nick and he even offered me a ticket to watch Zolani in Mexico.”
Tengimfene could be seen at tournaments clad in Durandt’s sponsored regalia. “Yes, Nick gave me some of the merchandise and I had no problem wearing it.”
But things would change last June when the Tete brothers as well as Macbute Sinyabi asked him to look after their careers.
This after Makazole, Zolani and Sinyabi had differences with Nick resulting to them bolting his stable and return home.
While the Tete brothers left everything to Tengimfene – such as finding the trainer for them, Sinyabi opted to find a trainer for himself and preferred his family to manage his career.
Tengimfene was left with the Tete brothers and the relationship blossomed leading to Zolani winning the IBF world junior bantamweight crown after Tengimfene decided to retain Branco Milenkovic as a promoter.
Makazole has also realised his immense talent adding the WBA Pan African and IBO International crowns to his SA accomplishment all in a space of eight months.
The achievements of the club has attracted other boxers to join in, including Zinto who will add to its remarkable success if he beats Chauke.
This has been a fairytale run for Tengimfene who was dismissed as a “four rounder” by his peers when he started the club.
“I used to sit there among those boxing fans who sing and chant during tournaments and people underestimated me when I started this club,” Tegimfene recalls.
He has grasped all the tricks from Durandt such as proper conditioning of the boxers.
He is also grateful to local businessman Bruce Butler who generously donated to him the boxing equipment he used in his own gymnasium.
“Bruce gave me the equipment free of charge and said I must just look for space and I am forever grateful to him.”
But is Tengimfene in this for a long haul?
“No no no my Bro,” he said.
“I only got involved in boxing management to help these Tete boys otherwise I do not want to be here for long. In fact if I could get a manager who would be able to take care of them I would get out of this but I will remain a boxing fan for life.”
The 47-year-old comes from a middle class family and his job as the South African Social Security Agency manager takes much of his time to fully commit to boxing.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos