LOBAMBA - Six clubs have been suspended from the Eswatini Boxing Association (EBA) with immediate effect, until further notice.
This decision was reached by the assembly yesterday during the EBA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the OlympAfrica Sports Centre at Lobamba. The suspended clubs include renowned teams with iconic boxers with a rich history in the sport.
The suspensions are in line with the association’s constitution, which stipulates such sanctions for failing to fulfil certain duties and responsibilities as affiliates. Furthermore, some clubs have been linked to misconduct, compounding their failure to meet primary obligations.
EBA President Webster Lukhele chaired the meeting, where the executive committee disclosed potential sanctions, including outright expulsion. However, members of the floor advised the executive to stick to constitutional punishments rather than imposing harsher penalties.
The primary reasons for the suspension, which applied to all affected clubs, were failure to pay subscriptions and non-participation in tournaments. For instance, the meeting experienced a two-hour delay as members waited for a quorum to be formed by teams that had paid the E500 affiliation fee.
It was noted that the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) has expressed concern regarding the lack of subscriptions among affiliate clubs.
Furthermore, auditors from Info and Tech Business Consultancy reported that the EBA is owed E9 000 due to unpaid affiliation fees.
The suspended clubs are Matsapha Boxing Club, famously known with former Member of Parliament (MP) Vincent Sihlongonyane; Malkerns Boxing Club, linked to Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) Treasurer Zakhele Zulu; and New Boys Boxing Club, of EOCGA Board member Pearl Dlamini. The remaining clubs are Olympia Boxing Club, Tambankulu Boxing Club and Ubombo Boxing Club.
Some clubs, such as New Boys, reportedly last participated in a tournament in 2020. Lukhele noted that these clubs paid subscriptions, however, in advance for the 2024 elections, during which Matsapha Boxing Club withdrew in those chaotic elections. Notably, at last year’s AGM, the assembly handed Sihlongonyane a four-year suspension.
The Ethics Committee also stated that Sihlongonyane failed to cooperate even after being given an opportunity to respond to the reasons behind his suspension. Matsapha did not affiliate at the end of August last year. However, his boxers were permitted to compete as individuals, though they could no longer represent Matsapha Boxing Club.
On another note, Ingwe Boxing Club revealed to this publication that they are processing the transfer of the country’s top boxer, Thabiso Dlamini, from Matsapha. They also disclosed that Olympia’s lone female and the country gifted boxer has expressed an interest in joining them too.
With these suspensions in place, boxers from the affected clubs are now considered free agents and do not require clearance letters from their former teams to join clubs of their choice.
Teams such as Malkerns, New Boys and Tambankulu reportedly submitted their leadership structures, but failed to honour tournament commitments.
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EBA Ethics Committee Chairman and Vice President Emmanuel du Pont (R) updates the floor regarding the suspension of Matsapha Boxing Club’s Vincent Sihlongonyane, while President Webster Lukhele (2nd R) and Secretary General Nkosinathi Dlamini are in talks, while Vice Secretary Sikhanyiso Simelane looks on. (Pic: Nimrod Hlophe)