Historic win for KZN boxer

PHIWOKUHLE Mnguni, the 21-yearold fighter from Kwazulu-natal who got tongues wagging when she made history at the Commonwealth Games in London, says she will continue making her mark on the women’s boxing scene.

Mnguni, also known as “Ben 10”, bagged a bronze medal at the games last week. Born and raised in Dundee’s Sibongile township, she was believed to be the first South African woman to achieve such honour at the games, which ended on Monday.

Speaking about her latest triumph, Mnguni said that she was happy to have had a podium finish.

“I am very happy that all the work I put into preparing for the games really paid off. Obviously the goal was to bring back home the gold medal, but that did not happen. However, the results motivated me to work even harder so that I will achieve my dream of competing at the Olympic Games in the future,” she added.

Mnguni clinched the bronze medal last week, fighting in the 57kg featherweight division in Birmingham, where the games were held.

Some of her preparations included hours of practice at the Sibongile Boxing Family gym, with the assistance of her coaches, a strict diet and a month of early mornings at a training camp in Johannesburg.

Mnguni’s other awards include a gold medal, scooped at the African Boxing Confederation Zone 4 Elite Championships in Mozambique earlier this year.

She said she drew her motivation from the need to become the next great boxer in South Africa.

She entered the boxing world when she was 10 years old; her love for the sport was inspired by a coach at her local gym.

“I was inspired to get into boxing by coach Nathi Junior Thusi. We used to spend a lot of time together, long before I began boxing. He would invite me to the gym every afternoon and I would see them working their magic, and that is when I discovered my first true love,” she said.

Mnguni said that although she participated in a sport that was mostly dominated by men, it had not deterred her from pursuing her dreams.

“I am motivated by the dream of uplifting my family name, wanting to build a big house for my parents, to make them proud, and just being the ultimate success in my chosen field because I believe this is the path that was meant for me,’’ she said.

Mnguni was currently studying sports management.

She encouraged young girls who wish to join the boxing industry to follow their dreams.

“I encourage young girls who wish to see themselves in my position some day, to not be afraid of pursuing their dreams, regardless of who might say what to them. Although boxing might seem like a dangerous and extreme sport, it is also one where you are showered with love and support from all directions,” said Mnguni.

Nkosinathi Thusi, her coach, said he was ecstatic about Mnguni’s recent triumph.

“I always saw potential in her from the time she was a little girl. Her initial focus was on karate, but I knew she would flourish more in boxing, so I encouraged her to pursue it further and it evidently paid off,” he said.

Thusi said he hoped that the “shy and disciplined” Mnguni would make it to the Olympic Games in 2024.