Maria David
A LACK of training facilities and boxing equipment has never discouraged Ondangwa-based boxer, Hedison Nghipondoka, better known as ‘Bulelo’, to offer free training classes to boxers in the Oshana Region.
Nghipondoka said the region is full of potential boxers and that it is important for young talented boxers to be nurtured.
He said grooming talented boxers might look easy, until one is given gloves to put on, jump into the ring and face an opponent.
UNFOLDING TALENT: Bulelo training young boxers during a session at the Ondangwa Tennis Court. – Photo by Maria David 
UNFOLDING TALENT: Bulelo training young boxers during a session at the Ondangwa Tennis Court. – Photo by Maria David 
UNFOLDING TALENT: Bulelo training young boxers during a session at the Ondangwa Tennis Court. – Photo by Maria David
“That’s when the realisation hits that training is everything,” he said.
In 2012, Nghipondoka established the Bulelo Boxing Academy with the aim of grooming future boxers and ensuring that they are exposed to competition.
“Exposure was not really there for me while growing up and I don’t want it to happen to other talented boxers,” he said.
Thus far, the academy has produced five professional boxers and about 35 amateur athletes of which some represented the region during the 2020 Youth Games held at Rietfontein in the Otjozondjupa Region.
“We came back with Silver and Bronze medals,” he said.
The boxer is expanding his academy to accommodate a fitness program at the club’s training area at the Ondangwa Tennis Court. The current programmes are offered to people free of charge.
Nghipondoka noted that the fitness training will be presented in the open space of the sports complex and that it will start at 17:00 and will end at 19:00 from Monday to Friday at 17-19:00.
He indicated that the club currently only has two pairs of boxing gloves and headgear to protect trainees and he called on possible benefactors to invest in the young talent he is attempting to uncover.
