The equipment was given to the Inkwenkwezi Boxing Club in Dunoon, which was started more than 10 years ago by resident Andile Simolwana.
For several years he ran the club from his yard with a dream of giving young boxers a fighting chance in international competitions.
This week the club received a donation from the City of Cape Town’s social services department during their annual tournament.
The handover was done by Mayco Member for Social Services, Safety and Security, JP Smith, who says he asked for the equipment to be sourced after seeing the club in action during a tournament some months ago.
DREAM: Owner wants his fighters to compete internationally
“At the time I marvelled at the enthusiasm and passion of the young boxers. I was also upset because of their lack of equipment, broken gloves and the fact that they had to share equipment transporting it from one match to the other,” says Smith.
“They deserve the best possible equipment and opportunities to be the next South African champions.”
Simolwana says it’s been a long road for the club, which first started in his front yard.
“I was a boxer and at the age of 27, I was competing in an international competition and I was up against a guy who had been boxing since he was young,” he says.
AID: City’s R50k donation to a Dunoon boxing club means more kids can enter the ring
“I only started in my twenties and found it very difficult to compete, so when I came home I started a club in the front of my house.”
He says over the years the club struggled as many children lost interest because they could not afford gloves and other equipment.
“But slowly we started getting there. The big thing for us was when Ward Councillor Lubabalo Makeleni came and sponsored a boxing ring and every year he helps with funds for the tournament. The children really look forward to it,” he adds.
The club has 30 members, aged 11 to 25, and Simolwana says the donation of boxing gloves, punching bags, speed balls, head-gear, skipping ropes, digital body weight scales and training targets will help them.
“Many of the children want to participate and we do our best, but the equipment is expensive. So we are very happy,” he says.