Mthatha-born boxing sensation Sikho Gift Nqothole will face his biggest challenge yet when he fights for a spot to represent South Africa at the Rio Olympic Games.
His fate will be decided at the International Boxing Association Open Boxing Olympic qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan from June 14 to 26.
The 21-year-old Khwezi township boxer told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that he was raring to go to the world championships.
“I am ready but I am still preparing because I do not know who will be my opponent exactly. Such opportunities do not come along everyday so I cannot let it slip,” he said.
He seems to have put the disappointment of not already making the SA Olympics team aside following his victory in the Olympic qualifier in Cameroon last month counted for nothing.
The SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) stipulated that in order for athletes to book their place for the Olympics, they will have to win in a world tournament and not just on the continent. This was done because Sascoc said it did not want fighters who will add numbers but would compete at the Olympics.
Nqothole conceded that the June world spectacle would not be a walk in the park.
“It will be a big challenge because the world games are like the Olympics because every boxing nation will be there.
“It will not be easy, hence I have been pushing myself hard at training so that I will not complain if I lose,” he said.
His trainer Mthetho Dumezweni said while his charge was ready, they still had another month of training.
“Sikho has done his job in Africa and going to the world games, he is ready for any opponent in front of him.
“We know he will go there to do what he is supposed to do,” Dumezweni said.
Nqothole advised budding boxers to be disciplined and not get into boxing because their friends might be playing the sport.
His aunt Nobulali Gcali said they were proud of Nqothole. She described him as a loner who was dedicated to the sport.
“We wish him well and hope he will go on and represent South Africa so that we too will feel important because of him,” she said.
The OR Tambo district sport, recreation, arts and culture department threw its weight behind the amateur boxer yesterday.
District director Michael Sodo said Nqothole was in the department’s academy which assists young athletes to achieve at the highest level of sport. Sodo said the regional department would stage a boxing tournament next month to help raise funds for Nqothole.
Moment of truth for Gift’s push for Rio
His fate will be decided at the International Boxing Association Open Boxing Olympic qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan from June 14 to 26.
The 21-year-old Khwezi township boxer told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that he was raring to go to the world championships.
“I am ready but I am still preparing because I do not know who will be my opponent exactly. Such opportunities do not come along everyday so I cannot let it slip,” he said.
He seems to have put the disappointment of not already making the SA Olympics team aside following his victory in the Olympic qualifier in Cameroon last month counted for nothing.
The SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) stipulated that in order for athletes to book their place for the Olympics, they will have to win in a world tournament and not just on the continent. This was done because Sascoc said it did not want fighters who will add numbers but would compete at the Olympics.
Nqothole conceded that the June world spectacle would not be a walk in the park.
“It will be a big challenge because the world games are like the Olympics because every boxing nation will be there.
“It will not be easy, hence I have been pushing myself hard at training so that I will not complain if I lose,” he said.
His trainer Mthetho Dumezweni said while his charge was ready, they still had another month of training.
“Sikho has done his job in Africa and going to the world games, he is ready for any opponent in front of him.
“We know he will go there to do what he is supposed to do,” Dumezweni said.
Nqothole advised budding boxers to be disciplined and not get into boxing because their friends might be playing the sport.
His aunt Nobulali Gcali said they were proud of Nqothole. She described him as a loner who was dedicated to the sport.
“We wish him well and hope he will go on and represent South Africa so that we too will feel important because of him,” she said.
The OR Tambo district sport, recreation, arts and culture department threw its weight behind the amateur boxer yesterday.
District director Michael Sodo said Nqothole was in the department’s academy which assists young athletes to achieve at the highest level of sport. Sodo said the regional department would stage a boxing tournament next month to help raise funds for Nqothole.
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