Amateur boxers showcase their skill at Zola Koti Rising Stars tournament

Grassroots Boxing Academy played host to the first Zola Koti Rising Stars boxing tournament, supported by the South African Boxing Federation (SABOF), in Makhaza, on Saturday, July 20.

Amateur boxers travelled from as far as Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, to be a part of the national programme.

Deputy president of SABOF Jongi Kamko, from Grassroots Boxing Academy, said they have honoured some of boxing’s legends by introducing a development tournament, that will assist upcoming boxers, provincially, nationally and internationally.

In the Western Cape, they’ve introduced the Zola Koti Rising Stars tournament. They are doing the same in the Eastern Cape with the Welcome Ncita Rising Stars, as well as in the KZN with the Sugarboy Rising Stars, and the Msimange Rising Stars in Gauteng and Abraham Lubisi Rising Stars in Mpumalanga.

“These gentlemen have contributed well in the sport and have built good friendships overseas. This will help our amateur boxers to attend tournaments in different countries in the near future,” said Kamko.

Coach Zola Koti said he was overwhelmed with joy and motivation to continue producing more world champs. He was in the corner of the Rose of Khayelitsha, Mzonke Fana, from amateur and when he made his professional debut in Philippi in 1994, right up to when he held the SA, IBF and WBC superfeatherweight titles. Koti said, they continue to lament a great friendship while producing young talented amateur and professional boxers across Cape Town.

“Looking back at the Western Cape, there’s been a few champions. But they have not achieved things that boxers like Mzonke Fana have achieved, and that is to be a World Champion. It is hard to be an international champion, let alone a World Champion. But because of hard work and discipline, Mzonke was able to do that. I was in his corner and the first coach to bring a world title to the Western Cape, in our community. In Site C, at the Blue Community Hall, we used to produce champions there, without a ring. With the little we have, we continue to do so today in our communities. That contribution, perhaps, played a crucial role in the Rising Stars selection,” said Koti.