A squad of amateur boxers aged between 14 and 27 from the London based Islington Boxing Club is travelling to Uitenhage on February 22 for an amateur boxing tournament in KwaNobuhle.
Organised by the Hopewell Conservation Trust, the international boxing weekend will start with a skills exchange session on Friday, February 22, followed by the tournament itself on Saturday afternoon, February 23 in KwaNobuhle.
“Both clubs are eager to learn from each other,” says Aaron Jacobs, manager of the Zama Boxing Club.
“The objectives of both the Islington and Zama boxing clubs are the same – to give young people from underprivileged backgrounds a positive outlet and a positive focus for their energy thus keeping them off the streets and out of trouble,” Brian Corrigan, developer of the Hopewell Conservation Estate adds.
Over the past year the London boxing club has donated a range of equipment to the KwaNobuhle boxers.
“Now, thanks to sponsorship from a prominent UK based charity and a number of private sponsors, they are able to come out to South Africa to meet the club they have been supporting,” says Corrigan.
Lenny Hagland of the Islington Boxing Club said “We are keen to support the development of boxing in Uitenhage and move towards a longer term relationship between the two clubs.”
The international tournament will consist of 11 bouts of three rounds each and starts at 12 noon to six in the evening on Saturday, February 23. The venue is the Sizakele Konzi Hall and entrance will be free.
Shamwari is sponsoring a team build the next day, when the two teams will be treated to a game drive on the reserve followed by a braai to foster cross-cultural bonds.
The Islington boxing team is travelling from London to Uitenhage for a boxing tournament.
