South Africa’s first female boxer to win Commonwealth Games medal, Phiwokuhle Mnguni, is among a strong team of eight boxers – six male and two female – named to represent Mzansi in next month’s African Games in Accra, Ghana.
Mnguni won featherweight bronze in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalliat, Phiwokuhle Mnguni is in a strong team of eight boxers – six male and two female – named to represent South Africa in next month’s Africa Games in Accra, Ghana
The other female boxer in the Accra-bound team is flyweight Thandolwethu Mathiba, a bronze medallist in last year’s Africa Championships in Yaounde.
South Africa National Boxing Organisation (SANABO) Secretary-General Liwa Mlokoti released the names of the eight boxers.
The men’s team has two gold medalists in last year’s Africa Championships in Yaounde, minimumweight Lusizi Lubabalo and lightweight Sogcwayi Sanele, and polished flyweight Sinovuyo Mintelwa who won silver in Yaounde.
Battle-hardened light-welter John Masamba, a semi-finalist in the Dakar Olympic Games qualifiers, featherweight Dyeyi Amzolele and Commonwealth Games light-middleweight bronze medallist Simnikiwe Bongco complete the men’s team.
Coaches are Nsosinathi Hatshwayo, Mzikayise Damesi and Noluvuyo Joxo.
Owing to turbulence in the boxing body, South Africa skipped the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco.
The last time South African boxers took part in the African Games was in 2015 in Brazzaville where they placed 12th overall jointly with Kenya and Botswana each with two bronze medals.
Light-flyweight Sibusiso Bandla and female flyweight Bathabile Ziqubu won the South Africa’s two bronze medals.
At last year’s Africa Championships in Yaounde, South Africa put up a commendable performance, finishing sixth overall with two gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
Credit: AFBC Communication
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