University Sports South Africa (USSA) chairperson and Walter Sisulu University student, Lonwabo Mafunda has his sights set on taking Eastern Cape university boxing on the world stage of the forthcoming 2016 Olympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The ambitious WSU management of training student says the USSA will for the first time participate in the World University Games taking place in Kazan, Russia next year.

“Three students from different universities will get the opportunity to participate at these games,” says Lonwabo.

Lonwabo’s passion for boxing started at a very young age as his father was also a boxer in Mdantsane. When he enrolled at WSU in 2007, he realised boxing as a sport was in a moribund state at the University- and resurrected it. Two years later in 2009, he played a role in WSU being crowned champions of USSA boxing.

“A year later, we hosted another championship game at the WSU Potsdam site and retained our championship credentials, a first in the history of USSA boxing,” he says.

“In yesteryears, boxing was neglected in tertiary institutions. Young boxers had to choose between education, pursuing professional boxing and my duty as chairperson to ensure development of university boxing at a national level.”

“In boxing, you find that people were pulling away from it because there was not much progress. You would find that a boxer is talented but with no formal education. When he sustains an injury, it means the end of his career with nothing to fall back on.

Lonwabo is currently working with young boxers from WSU and grooming them for the 2016 Olympics.

“These young men had almost given up on their dream as boxers when they finished Grade 12. With university resources, we can take them under our wings for the 2016 Olympics,” he says.
Lonwabo was recently elected for his second term as chairperson of USSA.

For further enquiries please contact:
Lonwabo Mafunda
USSA Boxing Chairperson
Cell: 071 345 6348

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