Boxing
Colin Nathan on Phumele Cafu's Rise and the Fight to Save South African Boxing
Boxing trainer Colin Nathan praises Phumele Cafu's WBO title win while addressing the urgent need to reform South African boxing, calling for collective efforts to save the sport.
Decorated boxing trainer and manager, Colin Nathan, praised Phumele Cafu’s determination following his maiden WBO title over Kosei Tanaka
THE ROT IN SA BOXING
South African Boxing has been on a downward spiral for many years. Many negative reports have been published about the incompetent administration involved in the sport in the country.
It got so bad that the newly appointed Minster of Sports, Arts and Recreation, Gayton McKenzie, publicly aired his frustrations and said, “It’s very troubling that boxers can get in the ring to risk their lives to earn as little as R4,000 for a fight. Boxing is one of the world’s biggest sports and we need to fix it in South Africa.”
Fighters' pay is only one problem, but it is the one that continues to destroy many talented boxers' dreams of making a living with the sport.
However, there are some who can weather the storm, with the right team alongside them. One of those boxers is Phumele Cafu, an Eastern Cape-born prodigy, who alongside trainer Colin Nathan has been able to make significant strides in his career.
Cafu was recently crowned the WBO super-flyweight champion after beating Kosei Tanaka. Nathan told SportsBoom that the minister of sport is doing a good job in fixing the sport, but also said that it will take a collective effort from the entire South African boxing community to fix the sport.
"Boxing is not just about two fighters getting in the ring and fighting. There's a lot of stuff that happens in the boardrooms. You just need to know the system, play the system and work the system. I think a lot of people need to work together, drop their egos and just be open to working with others,” said Nathan.
“I think if we can get that right, which is very doubtful given the magnitude of the toxicity in South African boxing, I think it can be done.”
I think the fixing is not going to happen overnight. The minister has already made very good decisions. The sport is definitely on a positive trajectory compared to last year. We also need to remember that boxing is a sport and not politics
Colin Nathan
SA BOXERS HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
As Cafu won his maiden world title, another South African boxer, Sivenathi Nontshinga, lost his on the same weekend.
Nathan emphasised that it was important that Cafu won his fight to further drive the message that South African boxers have what it takes to compete on the world stage.
The trainer and manager told SportsBoom that it took hard work to win the WBO title with Cafu.
"Behind the scenes, we worked very hard to get this shot. In camp, we worked exceptionally hard, and we had a solid game plan. I think it all came together on the night. We are in jubilation now because we have a new World Champion for South Africa after Sivenathi lost his championship in a devastating fashion. So, we really needed it," he said.
"I think it just proves and shows that South Africa actually has the ability within the fighters and the talent to cross the line and be credible world champions. I think these fighters need an opportunity. This is testimony to that. We have the ability to compete, we have the ability to cross the line and become world champions." he added.
THE BURNING FIRE IN CAFU'S BELLY
Cafu has achieved this feat at only 20 years of age and his coach, Nathan, says his achievement boils down to his determination.
After all, it takes a lot for a young man to escape the crime-ridden streets of East London or the alcoholism that has engulfed the youth of the Eastern Cape.
"As a human being, he's just a lovely kid to be around," Nathan described Cafu's character outside the boxing ring.”
"As a fighter, man he's got desire, heart and the fire in his belly to really achieve. That showed in this fight because he had to dig deep and he proved that with will, determination and the belief in the dream, then all is possible. Every fighter has a dream. Every fighter dreams of becoming a world champion. He made his dream come to fruition on Monday night."
Ongama Gcwabe is an experienced Sports Journalist based in South Africa. In his career, Ongama’s work has been published in the country’s biggest newspapers company, Independe Newspapers, and some of the leading news and sports websites including IOL Sport.