TALENTED BOXER THANDA MKHATSHWA PASSES ON

MBABANE – Just as the country celebrated its inaugural National Sports Awards where it recognised excelling sports people, death has struck once again.

Boxing has suffered a great loss in passionate boxer and well-known socialite in the capital city, Thanda Mkhatshwa. News of his death was confirmed yesterday morning by his close friends before his stable, Kid Mamba Boxing Club and the Swaziland Boxing Association (SWABA), also did same. “It’s true Thanda is gone. He was ill but then his demise came too fast since he fell sick. As his stable we’re so hurt and in deep pain at this moment. He was one of our great boxers and his death is saddening,” Kid Mamba’s Kingsley Kunene said when contacted on the matter. He confirmed that Mkhatshwa succumbed to the illness on Sunday evening, after he had been rushed to the Mbabane Government Hospital during the day. SWABA President Pearl Dlamini, who got the news while away in Benin yesterday morning, expressed her shock. “It is with great sadness that today (yesterday) I have learnt of the passing on of one of my talented boxers Thanda Jack Mkhatshwa. As I pay my tribute to him this day, my hands are shaking as I type my goodbyes. This is so sudden and so unbelievable,” she wrote from Benin.

She decried the loss for the country and boxing, as well as sports in general. She described Thanda as a talented boxer who had extraordinary passion for boxing and one of the active senior boxers renowned for finishing his bouts with a knockout. “He had so much power and speed, one of the best boxers who had proven himself as he outclassed almost all the boxers in the country who are in his weight category. Just back in April, 9 this year, we crowned him the gold medal of the 2017 National Boxing Champion in the 75kg, as he fought against Douglas Zikalala from New Boys Boxing Club and totally outclassed him,” she said of the late boxer. Dlamini said his commitment and passion was also evident as he defended his 75kg title for the past 10 years or so. She also recalled how Thanda would give her hope in international competitions, telling her ‘he was out there to work and floor his rivals’ to the point that he would sometimes lose his temper in the ring, forget about boxing but fight.

“Rest in eternal peace, my boxer, my son, my baby. You will forever be missed and the 75kg category in Swaziland would never be easily fitted by any boxer. You have fought your fight and you have run your race. Sad as it is, I say farewell my son, and you are now to be our Boxing Angel in heaven. We love you in death,” she said in her WhatsApp text. Kid Mamba’s Kingsely Kunene then appealed to the late boxer’s next of kin to contact him as they want to know where his funeral would take place and when. He said he can be contact on 7604 7405.

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