SA African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) has lashed out at two East London boxers for leaving the amateur ranks to go professional ahead of next year’s Rio Olympic Games.
Their anger follows news that Olympian Siphiwe Lusizi has turned professional and will make his debut in the paid ranks at the end of the month when he takes on Manelisi Mcenge in a middleweight contest in a Sijuta Promotions show at Orient Theatre, East London.
Lusizi, popularly known as “Matukuza”, is following in the footsteps of another Mdantsane boxer Thulani Mbenge who also left the amateurs to fight professionally. He made his debut two months ago and impressively destroyed Makhosonke Abrahams in one round in Durban.
Both Mbenge and Lusizi were part of the Sascoc Operation Excellence Programme which prepares athletes for the Olympic Games.
Mbenge ,who was the only SA boxer to win a medal at the last Commonwealth Games when he scooped a bronze , was one of the medal hopefuls for Team SA.
While Sascoc first indicated that the two boxers would be liable to pay some costs for abandoning the programme before the full Olympic circle, its president Gideon Sam said the Olympic committee will no longer pursue financial compensation from the fighters. “We will have to just cut our losses in this regard but we have learnt a lesson here,” he said.
However, Sam did not spare the boxers a tongue lashing describing their actions as unprofessional.
He said Sascoc had no problem with boxers turning professional after the Olympic cycle but to do so just months before the event was immoral.
“I mean there are just months before the Rio Olympics and these boys leave the programme after we spent so much on them. Where is professionalism in that and how do they think their actions will impact on other athletes who genuinely aspire to go to the Olympics.”
While Mbenge who left the region to join Sean Smith in Johannesburg has already successfully transitioned to the paid ranks, Lusizi is working hard with former Boxing SA boss Loyiso Mtya to follow suit.
The hard-hitting southpaw has been described as a revelation who will take boxing by storm.
Lusizi’s decision to join Mtya and SP under Andile Sidinile has cushioned the disappointment of SA National Boxing Organisation president Andile Mofu for losing one of his medal hopefuls in Rio.
“I think Sascoc will deal with the repercussions of Mbenge and Lusizi leaving the programme but at least I am happy that he has decided to stay at home and pursue his boxing dream,” he said. “The same cannot be said about Mbenge who left his home to train in another province.”
Mofu said he would have appreciated the two boxers giving him a courtesy call.
“We have come a long way with these two youngsters so at least I expected them to inform me of their decision,” he said.
Olympic hope turns pro
Their anger follows news that Olympian Siphiwe Lusizi has turned professional and will make his debut in the paid ranks at the end of the month when he takes on Manelisi Mcenge in a middleweight contest in a Sijuta Promotions show at Orient Theatre, East London.
Lusizi, popularly known as “Matukuza”, is following in the footsteps of another Mdantsane boxer Thulani Mbenge who also left the amateurs to fight professionally. He made his debut two months ago and impressively destroyed Makhosonke Abrahams in one round in Durban.
Both Mbenge and Lusizi were part of the Sascoc Operation Excellence Programme which prepares athletes for the Olympic Games.
Mbenge ,who was the only SA boxer to win a medal at the last Commonwealth Games when he scooped a bronze , was one of the medal hopefuls for Team SA.
While Sascoc first indicated that the two boxers would be liable to pay some costs for abandoning the programme before the full Olympic circle, its president Gideon Sam said the Olympic committee will no longer pursue financial compensation from the fighters. “We will have to just cut our losses in this regard but we have learnt a lesson here,” he said.
However, Sam did not spare the boxers a tongue lashing describing their actions as unprofessional.
He said Sascoc had no problem with boxers turning professional after the Olympic cycle but to do so just months before the event was immoral.
“I mean there are just months before the Rio Olympics and these boys leave the programme after we spent so much on them. Where is professionalism in that and how do they think their actions will impact on other athletes who genuinely aspire to go to the Olympics.”
While Mbenge who left the region to join Sean Smith in Johannesburg has already successfully transitioned to the paid ranks, Lusizi is working hard with former Boxing SA boss Loyiso Mtya to follow suit.
The hard-hitting southpaw has been described as a revelation who will take boxing by storm.
Lusizi’s decision to join Mtya and SP under Andile Sidinile has cushioned the disappointment of SA National Boxing Organisation president Andile Mofu for losing one of his medal hopefuls in Rio.
“I think Sascoc will deal with the repercussions of Mbenge and Lusizi leaving the programme but at least I am happy that he has decided to stay at home and pursue his boxing dream,” he said. “The same cannot be said about Mbenge who left his home to train in another province.”
Mofu said he would have appreciated the two boxers giving him a courtesy call.
“We have come a long way with these two youngsters so at least I expected them to inform me of their decision,” he said.
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