Boxing SA boss-turned trainer Loyiso Mtya will not be allowed to be in the corner of his two boxers Zolani Tete and Nkosinathi Joyi when they participate in two separate bouts at East London’s Orient Theatre marking their return to the city tomorrow.
This was revealed by BSA board chairwoman Ntambi Ravele amid a furore over BSA’s failure to process Mtya’s application for a licence which would allow him to perform his duties as a trainer.
The saga has drawn the attention of Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula who was asked by Mtya to intervene.
Mtya recently resigned as BSA acting chief executive just hours before he was scheduled to appear in the disciplinary hearing for allegations of corruption and maladministration.
Since quitting he has taken up a job as the trainer of Tete and was later joined by other boxers including Joyi.
He has been training the boxers at Downtown gymnasium in town with his stable of fighters soaring by the day.
Tete and Joyi will make a long-awaited return to the Orient Theatre ring after a long time in Andile Sidinile’s Sijuta Promotions tournament.
Both boxers will be going to their bouts for the first time with Mtya as their trainer.
Tete will take on Argentinean opponent Diuhl Olguin in a junior-bantamweight non-title clash while Joyi will engage in a local derby against fellow Mdantsane boxer Sinethemba Magibisela in a junior-flyweight clash.
Both are seeking redemption after the former relinquished his IBF world junior-bantamweight crown while Joyi lost his IBO junior-flyweight title rematch against Filipino Rey Loreto in March. While the pair are banking on Mtya’s expertise to guide them in their crucial bouts, BSA has pulled the rug under his feet by denying him an opportunity to be in the corner.
Ravele told Dispatch yesterday that Mtya would not be allowed to be in the corner of the two boxers. This has left Mtya and Mla Tengimfene who manages the boxers seething with rage.
“Yes I can confirm that Mr Mtya is not a BSA licensee so he cannot be allowed to be in the corner of a boxer,” said Ravele.
Asked if Mtya had applied for a licence, Ravele said: “I have heard that he did but we as the board have not yet sat down to look at all the applications.”
Tengimfene said he submitted Mtya’s application three weeks ago and was therefore surprised that it has not yet been processed. “I have even approached the Sports Minister about this issue and he promised to ensure that it is resolved before the fights,” he said.
Mtya said BSA was out to frustrate him following his acrimonious departure.
“If Ntambi says the board has not looked at all the applications it means everyone has not been licensed and all the fights she attended were illegal,” he fumed vowing to be in the corner of the two boxers. “We are not taking this lying down and I can tell you now that I will be in the corner of my boxers. I cannot be victimised like this.”
Attempts to get Mbalula’s comments proved futile.
Mtya in corner over fight licence
This was revealed by BSA board chairwoman Ntambi Ravele amid a furore over BSA’s failure to process Mtya’s application for a licence which would allow him to perform his duties as a trainer.
The saga has drawn the attention of Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula who was asked by Mtya to intervene.
Mtya recently resigned as BSA acting chief executive just hours before he was scheduled to appear in the disciplinary hearing for allegations of corruption and maladministration.
Since quitting he has taken up a job as the trainer of Tete and was later joined by other boxers including Joyi.
He has been training the boxers at Downtown gymnasium in town with his stable of fighters soaring by the day.
Tete and Joyi will make a long-awaited return to the Orient Theatre ring after a long time in Andile Sidinile’s Sijuta Promotions tournament.
Both boxers will be going to their bouts for the first time with Mtya as their trainer.
Tete will take on Argentinean opponent Diuhl Olguin in a junior-bantamweight non-title clash while Joyi will engage in a local derby against fellow Mdantsane boxer Sinethemba Magibisela in a junior-flyweight clash.
Both are seeking redemption after the former relinquished his IBF world junior-bantamweight crown while Joyi lost his IBO junior-flyweight title rematch against Filipino Rey Loreto in March. While the pair are banking on Mtya’s expertise to guide them in their crucial bouts, BSA has pulled the rug under his feet by denying him an opportunity to be in the corner.
Ravele told Dispatch yesterday that Mtya would not be allowed to be in the corner of the two boxers. This has left Mtya and Mla Tengimfene who manages the boxers seething with rage.
“Yes I can confirm that Mr Mtya is not a BSA licensee so he cannot be allowed to be in the corner of a boxer,” said Ravele.
Asked if Mtya had applied for a licence, Ravele said: “I have heard that he did but we as the board have not yet sat down to look at all the applications.”
Tengimfene said he submitted Mtya’s application three weeks ago and was therefore surprised that it has not yet been processed. “I have even approached the Sports Minister about this issue and he promised to ensure that it is resolved before the fights,” he said.
Mtya said BSA was out to frustrate him following his acrimonious departure.
“If Ntambi says the board has not looked at all the applications it means everyone has not been licensed and all the fights she attended were illegal,” he fumed vowing to be in the corner of the two boxers. “We are not taking this lying down and I can tell you now that I will be in the corner of my boxers. I cannot be victimised like this.”
Attempts to get Mbalula’s comments proved futile.
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