An impoverished rural Limpopo boxing club received a morale-boosting sponsorship when a leading college sponsored them on the eve of their national bout.

Mr Frederick Silima, Director: Professional Technical at the FET College in Thohoyandou, handed over a training kit and R2 000 to the cash-strapped Mulenzhe Boxing Club last Tuesday. This happened shortly before the club left for East London for a national title fight, where Limpopo´s junior featherweight, Pfariso Neluvhalani, and Dion Mmbubana will trade punches with their opponents - Pfariso in a title fight and Mbubana in a non-title fight.

Silima challenged the club that is sending two boxers to the event to bring the bacon home. “Premier Mathale wants champions to succeed now and always,” he said. He added that he was shocked to learn that the boxing club, without any cash or kit, was sending boxers to East London for a national tournament. He said he had a meeting with members of the club and he got to know their problems.

“We sat together with management and we decided to assist these dedicated fighters. We hope the token we have given them will serve as an incentive and steer them to victory. We would like to see them become role models to other youths and thus draw them away from the streets,” he said.

Silima said the college was very serious about youth development and plans were at an advanced stage of starting a sports academy at the college, which will focus on the youth. “Youths are easily tempted into doing bad things if they do not have anything to do, but sport has so far proved that it is one of the magnets that could attract them away from the streets where they are exposed to all sorts of ills and addiction to drugs, booze and illicit sex,” he said.

Mpho Khorommbi, trainer of the club, said with such support they had no reason to lose. “We are very motivated and we do not have any excuse for not bringing back the belt to Limpopo.. The donation has boosted our morale and we now have all what it takes to make champions from Limpopo,” he said.