Provincial sport, recreation, arts and culture MEC Pemmy Majodina may have jumped the gun when she publicly committed her department into backing world boxing champion Zolani Tete to fight at home in his next bout.
Majodina made the announcement during Tete’s welcoming ceremony for his triumphant return from England where he retained his IBF world junior-bantamweight crown with a scintillating eight-round knockout of British challenger Paul Butler in Liverpool early this month.
Not only did Majodina committed her department (DSRAC) but she even went as far as suggesting the fight venue and date proposing that it should be held on June 16 at Fort Hare University in Alice as part of the scenery celebrations of the institution.
However, since that announcement Tete’s promoter Branco Milenkovic has been crying foul complaining about the failure of the department to honour numerous meetings scheduled to discuss the matter.
“We have scheduled meetings to this regard only for them to be cancelled at the last minute for further notice, until now,” said Milenkovic.
This despite not only Majodina making the commitments but Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula also adding his voice that the Mdantsane boxer deserves to fight at home.
“I watched Tete fight against Butler, what a warrior. Whatever it takes I think he must defend his crown at home in Eastern Cape,” Mbalula wrote on social media.
“MEC Majodina must mobilise funds within the government in the Eastern Cape to stage a world-class fight live on television for ‘Last Born’ Tete,” he added.
However, despite the backing, the fight venue for Tete’s next fight looks far from being decided with no progress made since his arrival.
This while the IBF’s 30-day deadline for the completion of negotiations is looming so ever close.
The federation gave Tete’s camp and that of his mandatory challenger MacJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico 30 days to complete negotiations failing which the promotional rights would be competed in purse bids.
Milenkovic said there were less than 10 days now left for the two camps to reach an agreement.
“I must say I am disappointed with how things have turned out from the Eastern Cape government after making such public promise.”
He added that it was the norm for DSRAC to make public promises every time Tete was returning home from a triumphant fight from abroad.
“In July last year after winning the IBF title in Japan, similar promises were made but when we tried to make a follow-up we hit a brick wall.”
When Majodina was approached for comment she referred Dispatch to departmental head Mzolisi Matutu, saying she was in Mozambique.
Matutu said the department had stopped accommodating unsolicited bids as it had brought it on a collision course with the office of the auditor-general.
“What we do now , we open a tender process for people who have major sporting events in the province to submit their proposals,” said Matutu.
“We do this in conjunction with the Tourism Board but so far we are finalising that process and will announce the date for proposals.”
He admitted that it would be impossible to accommodate the fight when it had a deadline from the IBF.
Unless Milenkovic pulls a rabbit out the hat, Tete will likely have to travel abroad and fight in his challenger’s backyard yet again.
Fury over Pemmy’s U-turn
Majodina made the announcement during Tete’s welcoming ceremony for his triumphant return from England where he retained his IBF world junior-bantamweight crown with a scintillating eight-round knockout of British challenger Paul Butler in Liverpool early this month.
Not only did Majodina committed her department (DSRAC) but she even went as far as suggesting the fight venue and date proposing that it should be held on June 16 at Fort Hare University in Alice as part of the scenery celebrations of the institution.
However, since that announcement Tete’s promoter Branco Milenkovic has been crying foul complaining about the failure of the department to honour numerous meetings scheduled to discuss the matter.
“We have scheduled meetings to this regard only for them to be cancelled at the last minute for further notice, until now,” said Milenkovic.
This despite not only Majodina making the commitments but Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula also adding his voice that the Mdantsane boxer deserves to fight at home.
“I watched Tete fight against Butler, what a warrior. Whatever it takes I think he must defend his crown at home in Eastern Cape,” Mbalula wrote on social media.
“MEC Majodina must mobilise funds within the government in the Eastern Cape to stage a world-class fight live on television for ‘Last Born’ Tete,” he added.
However, despite the backing, the fight venue for Tete’s next fight looks far from being decided with no progress made since his arrival.
This while the IBF’s 30-day deadline for the completion of negotiations is looming so ever close.
The federation gave Tete’s camp and that of his mandatory challenger MacJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico 30 days to complete negotiations failing which the promotional rights would be competed in purse bids.
Milenkovic said there were less than 10 days now left for the two camps to reach an agreement.
“I must say I am disappointed with how things have turned out from the Eastern Cape government after making such public promise.”
He added that it was the norm for DSRAC to make public promises every time Tete was returning home from a triumphant fight from abroad.
“In July last year after winning the IBF title in Japan, similar promises were made but when we tried to make a follow-up we hit a brick wall.”
When Majodina was approached for comment she referred Dispatch to departmental head Mzolisi Matutu, saying she was in Mozambique.
Matutu said the department had stopped accommodating unsolicited bids as it had brought it on a collision course with the office of the auditor-general.
“What we do now , we open a tender process for people who have major sporting events in the province to submit their proposals,” said Matutu.
“We do this in conjunction with the Tourism Board but so far we are finalising that process and will announce the date for proposals.”
He admitted that it would be impossible to accommodate the fight when it had a deadline from the IBF.
Unless Milenkovic pulls a rabbit out the hat, Tete will likely have to travel abroad and fight in his challenger’s backyard yet again.
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