Four local boxers have been chosen to represent the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) at the bilateral games in Lesotho on 28 September.
Riflemen Lwandile Madikane (welterweight), Justice Norushu (junior lightweight), Thembelani Khwebulana (middleweight) and Lungelo Dube (light welterweight) are all members of 6 SAI battallion based in Grahamstown.
This is the first time 6 SAI members have been picked to be part of the army team and coach Thandisile Poltini was optimistic about their chances before they left this week for a training camp in Bloemfontein, saying their training had gone well and the boxers were confident.
Four local boxers have been chosen to represent the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) at the bilateral games in Lesotho on 28 September.
Riflemen Lwandile Madikane (welterweight), Justice Norushu (junior lightweight), Thembelani Khwebulana (middleweight) and Lungelo Dube (light welterweight) are all members of 6 SAI battallion based in Grahamstown.
This is the first time 6 SAI members have been picked to be part of the army team and coach Thandisile Poltini was optimistic about their chances before they left this week for a training camp in Bloemfontein, saying their training had gone well and the boxers were confident.
Coach Poltini also said, "Next month we are going to the SANDF champs in Cape Town. There, champions of the respective divisions are going to be put into a high-performance centre set-up, where they will prepare for the long-term goal of being part of team South Africa at the 2012 Olympic Games in London."
The four are still fighting as amateurs because for the army to allow them to go professional would be illegal.
"We get salaries here and a person cannot earn two paycheques," said the coach.
Dube said it was just as well.
"Maybe after five years I would consider turning professional because, as a young fighter, you need to have many fights so that you can learn and fix your mistakes. The professional guys fight once or twice a year and that is not enough."
Lwandile and Lungelo mentioned former world junior-lightweight champion Malcolm Klassen as their favourite boxer and someone they looked up to.
