The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
LEGENDARY boxing trainer, Philip “Striker” Ndlovu has turned to boxing promotion as he seeks to ramp up the boxing scene in the region and turn more pugilists professional.
Ndlovu’s most illustrious products at Tshaka Youth Centre include former World Boxing Association Pan African heavyweight champion, Thamsanqa Dube, and World Boxing Federation Africa heavyweight champion Elvis “Bomber” Moyo.
Striker, as Ndlovu is fondly known in boxing circles, revealed he has been granted a promoter’s licence by the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board and is eager to play another role in the resurrection of the sport in Bulawayo.
He said watching the sport wallow in the doldrums had given him great heartache that pushed him to explore the area of promotions.
“I know we are there to play different roles in the sport but I was getting frustrated training boxers that are not given the opportunity to turn professional as there are no fights locally. Nurturing boxers means we want to see them take on the big stage and challenge others but for years there has been this anti-climax that has seen young boxers showing a lot of promise at amateur level and then fail to make any headway professionally,” said Ndlovu.
He said he has been engaging several prospective sponsors and is confident they are going to put up a fight soon.
Ndlovu said while he was still practising as a trainer, once the demands of promoting swamp him, he will delegate that duty to other emerging trainers, adding it will also give him a chance to groom future trainers.
South Africa’s Kalakoda Promotions, in partnership with Kwesé Sports, has breathed life into local boxing with the regular hosting of title bouts in Harare involving local and continental boxers. The local boxing scene had been “dead” with little activity and this saw former World Boxing Council Silver welterweight champion, Charles Manyuchi joining Zambian promoters, Oriental Quarries.
Ndlovu said watching Kalakoda take fights to Harare also inspired him to apply for the license and take advantage of the organisation’s goodwill.
“I have been talking to Kalakoda and they are forthcoming in having a bout in the city and this will be a positive move as some boxers will have the chance to turn professional. Without corporate funding the sport cannot go anywhere, but I’m glad there are individuals and entities willing to come on board and assist us uplift the sport,” he said.
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