Minister of Sports Arts and Culture Mr Makhenkhensi Stofile has added two new roles for the ever busy Limpopo´s father of boxing, Mr Eric Baloyi.

Baloyi, father of the former six-time world champion Cassius Baloyi, and the MEC for Sports and Culture, Ms Joyce Mashamba, were given the task to engage the Department of Education about the introduction of boxing at schools. He was also tasked with reviving the South African Amateur Boxing Organization in the province.

This was during the official opening of the R15 million Malamulele Boxing Gymnasium on last Thursday.

The gymnasium, which is the brainchild of the Thulamela municipality and the provincial department of sport arts and culture, is an honour to Baloyi and was built in recognition of the contribution he made in the development of boxing in the province.

The gymnasium, which will be utilized for the training and development of upcoming young boxers in the community, comprises a main hall for the hosting of tournaments, board room and offices.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Makhenkhesi Stofile said the gymnasium would make it easier for the local boxers to access the best facilities, as they would not have to board taxis, but could just run or use bicycles to reach it. He said this would improve the standard of boxing as more and more youths would be involved in the sport.

Stofile said it was high time that provinces started recognising their stars and those working towards the development of sport in the country. He added that he was excited that Baloyi had finally been recognized by his own people.

MEC for Sports Arts and Culture in Limpopo Mrs Joyce Mashamba thanked Baloyi for the role he played in developing boxing without any resources. “My department will continue to support sport in the province, so that we see stars being nurtured from this province,” she said.