Akhule Mgoqi won gold as well as Best Boxer
overall at UWC.

The Overstrand Whale Boxing Club (OWBC) has impressed the local community once again as they continue to bring home gold and silver. The club’s members participated in a number of competitions throughout August, with these young boxers proving that they are only getting better and better.

In Swellendam on 27 July, Siphamandla Damesi won the Newcomer of the
Year Overberg Sport Council award. Siphamandla has been winning almost
nothing but gold medals and trophies since 2018 and the club is hoping
he will be chosen for the South African team for 2020.

On 10 August, 14 boxers from the club went to the University of the
Western Cape (UWC) for a Women’s Month celebration boxing tournament.
They faced boxers from all over Cape Town and took home nine gold and
five silver medals. Akhule Mgoqi (16) was also named the Overall Best
Boxer and received a trophy. A week later on 17 August the club took
seven boxers to Dunoon to face clubs from The Cape Metro area. The club
came out on top, with all of the boxers winning gold medals.

The OWBC ended off the month of August with the Provincial
Championships for cadets (12 – 14 years) and juniors (15 – 16 years)
held in Mossel Bay, where various clubs from the West Coast, Cape Metro,
Cape Winelands, Eden and the Overberg competed. The OWBC is the only
boxing club in the Overberg and 8 of their 12 boxers that competed won
gold, while three won silver and one bronze.

 UWC SIPHAMANDLA DAMESI
Siphamandla Damesi won gold at UWC and the club is hoping that he will be chosen for SAs.

The fact that OWBC won eight gold medals is an incredible
achievement. The winning region consisted of over 20 clubs and won nine
gold medals overall. Twelve-year-old Thando Zongezile from OWBC was also
named the best boxer in his age group (12 – 14) and received a trophy
and voucher.

OWBC’s next competition will take place on 24 September in Limpopo, where eight of the club’s boxers will be competing. Catering and accommodation for the boxers are covered but the club is still looking for funds for transport, as well as accommodation and catering for the club’s coach, Mzi Damesi. The club will also likely have training camps before that competition, which will also require funding. If you would like to get involved and make a donation, or become a sponsor, please contact Michelle (OWBC admin and finance) at overstrandboxing@gmail.com.

This article was first published at https://thevillagenews.co.za/local-boxing-club-rakes-in-awards/

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