▫️ Two medallists in Yaounde, Lusizi and Thandolwethu in Mzansi team for DRC bonanza
Reigning Africa minimumweight champion Lubabalo Lusizi and and bronze medallist Mathiba Thandolwethu are among the five boxers to do battle in the Africa Elite Championships in Kinshasa from October 14-27.
Announcing the five boxers who will represent South Africa in Africa’s premier boxing event, the Secretary-General of South Africa National Boxing Organisation (SANABO) Liwa Mlokoti said the team will be captained by Mandela Cup light-welterweight silver medallist John Paul Masamba (pictured).
“We’re satisfied with the boxers we’ve selected, and wish them the best of luck in Kinshasa, we will also be sending five boxers in the world youth championships,” said Mlokoti.
Others in the team of three female and two male boxers are Mandela Cup minimumweight silver medallist Dila Voyulwethu and flyweight bronze medallist Ncube Ntandoyenkosi.
Lusizi and Thandolwethu are the only Yaounde medallists in the team. South Africa finished sixth in the 2023 Africa Championships with two gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
Lusizi outpointed Cameroon’s Marcial Wouang in the finals to win gold in Yaounde while Thandolwethu lost to Morocco’s Rabab Cheddar in the semi-finals. Lusizi will this time be fighting in the flyweight division, and depending on the outcome of the draw, the South African boxer might meet his conqueror in the Mandela Cup and eventual gold medallist Valerie Fabrice from Mauritius.
Vuyolethu and Masamba made their exit in the quarters in Yaounde with the former going down to Algeria’s Fatiha Mansouri while Masamba lost to Morocco’s 2019 African Games champion Nadir Andelhaq.
With defending champion Jugurtha Ait Beka of Algeria and silver medallist Richarno Colin not heading to Kinshasa, Masamba’s main stumbling block will be DR Congo’s punching machine Mbaya Mulumba who lost to Masamba in the semi-finals of Mandela Africa Boxing Cup Championships in an exciting bout that was wildly cheered by enthusiastic fans. A rematch between the two boxers will be loaded with explosive exchanges.
Ncube, the new kid on the block in the South Africa team, made her international debut in the Mandela Cup tournament, bowing out in the semis to DR Congo’s Africa silver medallist Muamba Nyembo. The DR Congo pugilist lost in the finals of last year’s Africa Elite Championships in Yaounde to home girl Reine Ngoune.
The promising Ngoune will definitely be in Cameroon’s team for the Africa Championships to defend her title. This time around Nyembo will be fighting at home and out to avenge her defeat should they meet again.
South Africa’s medallists in last year’s Africa tournament in Yaounde:
- Gold: Minimumweight Lubabalo Lusizi, lightweight Sogcwayi Sanele
- Silver: Mtintelwa Sinovuyo
- Bronze: Light-flyweight Mathiba Thandolwethu and middleweight Mtateko Sithole.
✍🏼 AFBC Communications
