Municipal honour for Tsiko Mulovhedzi

Newly crowned International Boxing Organization champion Tsiko Mulovhedzi was honoured by several government bodies shortly after he had won the world championship.

Mulovhedzi, who recently stopped Ali Funeka in the fifth round to win the IBO welterweight title in East London, was honoured by the provincial department of sport, arts and culture, Vhembe District Municipality and Thulamela Local Municipality during a glittering event held at 2Ten Hotel on 7 August.

The congratulatory gala dinner was sponsored by the Mathole Motshekga Foundation. Motshekga is the Chief Whip of the ANC in the national parliament and founder of the Kara Heritage Foundation.

The event was also attended by his parents, eight siblings, members of his extended family, promoters and representatives of the provincial, district and local government.

During the event, Cllr Lucy Mulaudzi congratulated Mulovhedzi on a job well done. Dr Motshekga, who has been financing Mulovhedzi's career since long before he became champion, said it was good that the boxer used the indigenous knowledge he learnt from his father, Mr James Mulovhedzi Netshitotsheni, who was a champion of bare-fist fighting,musangwe.

Mr Mulovhedzi (sr) said he was happy that his son had become a champion as he had predicted some years back when he was still training him. Thulamela Mayor Grace Mahosi said she was happy that Mulovhedzi had put the municipality,  the province and the country on the world map again, as was done by Phillip Ndou, Cassius Baloyi, Isaac Hlatswayo and others. Ndou also attended the function.

Mulovhedze said that he was happy that he had fulfilled his father's dream of becoming a world champion. He also thanked his uncle, Mr Andries Mulovhedzi, a big boxing fan and business person, who supported him from his days as an amateur.

The Chief Whip of the Vhembe District Municipality, Cllr Tshifhiwa Dali, urged local businesspeople to support Mulovhedzi financially as it was done by Dr Motshekga and his uncle, Andries Molovhedzi.

The boxer’s elder sister, Avhasei Mulovhedzi, described her younger brother as "a very quiet person who speaks little, but does a lot of talking in the boxing ring."

Sport - Date: 27 August 2015

Ndivhuwo Musetha

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