An electrifying atmosphere prevailed at Bekelentloko Street in Town Two, on Saturday 12 March, as boxers exchanged blows during a tournament organised by Khayelitsha Boxing Academy.
Boxing fanatics came out in numbers to show support for their favourites boxers while also listening to different messages sent out.
The tournament highlighted the scourge of gender based violence, alcohol abuse and other social ills in society.
Tournament organisers Lunga Nkentsha and Ayanda Mapasa shared various messages with the crowd.
Nketsha said as part of celebrating International Women’s Day, which was marked on Tuesday 8 March, they also included women in the tournament.
“The tournament also helped in spreading the word that Khayelitsha Boxing Academy is there for girls who are interested in self-defence, for health living or boxing itself. Our message was clear that, we are saying no to gender-based violence and abuse of alcohol and drugs,” said Nkentsha.
He says the atmosphere showed people were “enjoying” the tournament. He called for more such tournaments.
“As the organisers we also wanted to share a message that says, there’s a lot of ways of dealing with frustrations and trauma other than being violent. Even the use of substance abuse is not the way. So, one can use boxing to escape any misery they may be going through in life,” he urged.
Mapasa said the academy dealt with children “holistically”.
They are not only focussing on sport, but their entire well-being.
“Our ultimate goal is to educate the black child through sport. So, the response to this tournament was wow for me. Children still need to know that boxing is still alive and they have many options to explore in life,” said Mapasa.