As part of the ongoing engagement with the sporting fraternity, Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Lebogang Maile held a meeting with the leadership of Amateur Boxing in Gauteng. The meeting was aimed at addressing two key issues:
- The state of amateur boxing in Gauteng
- A process of developing a Gauteng sports plan
"If we are to succeed in our drive to develop Gauteng as a Home of Champions, we remain steadfast in our conviction that development is the starting point. We remain committed to the creation of a conducive environment so that the sport thrives,'' said Maile.
Challenges
The meeting identified the following as the immediate challenges facing the amateur boxing sector:
- Lack of access to recreational facilities.
- Lack of basic equipment (such as punching bags, gloves etc)
- Registration of boxers (development and tracking as there is no database)
Immediate interventions
"Part of the challenge with any sporting code is to get sportsmen and women to train regularly so that they are able to magnify their skills and enhance their competitive edge,'' added Maile.
The department will put in place the following interventions immediately:
- Procure basic equipment such as gloves, punching bags and other necessities
- Initiate discussions with local government on the accessibility of facilities
- Develop a database of amateur boxers and get them registered with relevant regulatory bodies
Maile says today's engagement was also meant to kick -start a preliminary process where the department engages various sectors of sport in the development of Gauteng's sporting plan. The plan will seek to ensure that all social players agree on the development imperatives, identify resource requirements and then agree on implementation.
"The challenges related to accessing facilities and infrastructure remains a grave concern for us. We believe that it must be dealt with in the context of the comprehensive sports plan. That is why it is important for us to engage municipalities who are in charge of facilities about their concerns. We are confident that we will find each other" said Maile.
For more information please contact:
Emmanuel Mdawu
Cell: 082 848 1452
E-mail:emmanuel.mdawu@gauteng.gov.za
Source: SAPA
