Ncitha loss a KO blow
WHAT is it about South African sport that it is always marred by debilitating squabbles, boardroom spats and the like? Virtually all the codes have been gripped by scandals and skullduggery caused by maladministration over the years. These cascade down from international and national levels into the provinces. Boxing has not escaped this. Too often spats erupt between officials and fighters in purse disputes and tournament promotions in the Eastern Cape.
It is no wonder one of this region’s famous sons threw his hands up in sheer frustration this week and said he has had enough and is quitting the province.
Welcome Ncitha, a former world champion, has brought much joy to boxing fans in this region since the time he won the IBF junior-featherweight title in 1990.
For him to say he is leaving for Johannesburg, where he believes he will have more opportunities, is disconcerting and tragic.
It is an indictment on the state of the sport in the province. It should have all stakeholders sitting up, taking note and doing something to put the brakes on the exodus of talent that now includes people like Ncitha.
The Eastern Cape is seen as a mecca of boxing and has down the years produced some of the finest fighting talent this country – and the world – has seen. Yet we continue to lose the best we have to provinces like Gauteng.
Some of the country’s top promoters also hail from this region and they are mindful of the talent available here. No wonder so many of the young up-and-coming fighters are lured away with promises of more lucrative opportunities.
To turn his back on the Eastern Cape must be pretty tough for Ncitha. He would not be drawn on his reasons, but he has had issues with various stakeholders here. He would also not talk about whether the split with Mdantsane’s top boxer Macbute Sinyabi was a tipping point. “There were issues that did not go down well with me although I had no problem with the boxer,” he said.
His internal battles around the Premier Boxing League with local promoters also did not sit well with him.
Now that Ncitha, also a technical trainer of great ability, has joined ranks with top promoter Rodney Berman he is hopeful for the future.
His departure is indeed a knockout blow for the province and a move which will further retard the development of the fight game here.
The Eastern Cape has produced some of the best sports administrators in the country including Danny Jordaan, now Safa president, and Gideon Sam, head of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee. But all too often players and administrators make the trek north in pursuit of better prospects. It should be of deep concern that we cannot keep them here – particularly the likes of Welcome Ncitha.