UBerman uzoqhatha ezolekelela kuMnguni
Kuhlelwa umqhudelwano wokuqongelela imali ezoxoshisa ikati eziko kuMzimasi Mnguni osephile isikhathi eside exinwa ukugula. Ingwevu ekuqhatheni izimpi ezinkulu zesibhakela uRodney Berman usezibophezele ukuhlela umqhudelwano maphakathi nonyaka. UBerman, owasebenza isikhathi eside noMnguni beqhatha osomankomane base-Eastern Cape, uke wawenza umqhudelwano ngowezi-2006 kanti imali eyenziwa ngalezo zimpi, yanikelwa kwaMnguni. Uthe usamatasa nabaxhasi ukwenza owesibili. “UBra Mzi ungumngani wami weminyaka. Angeke ngikwazi ukusonga izandla ngithule uma ngibona kukhona okungahambi kahle. Ngiyaxhumana nabasondelene naye bangibikele ukuthi ululama kanjani,” kusho uBerman weGolden Gloves Promotions evamise ukuqhatha izimpi e-Emperors Palace eGoli. Abasondelene nale nkakha eyayingumqeqeshi, imenenja nompathi we-Eyethu Boxing Promotions bathi ibambekile njengoba iphuma ingena ezibhedlela. UMnguni, onomuzi eVincent Height endaweni yomtakabani e-East London, usehambe nokugula kusukela waba sengozini yemoto ngowezi-2012.
Imoto yakhe yohlobo lweLand Rover yashayisana neveni kwashona abantu abathathu kwathi yena wathinteka kabuhlungu esifubeni. Emveni kwalokho uhlaselwe isifo sohlangothi okwenza wangakwazi ukuzihambela njengoba esehamba ngesihlalo esinamasondo. Kwaba nomunyu kwabambona eduze ngesikhathi eyokwemukela umklomelo weLifetime Achievement emcimbini weBoxing South Africa ngowezi-2017 nangowezi-2018. Wahlonishwa nguFikile Mbalula noThulas Nxesi abebengoNgqongqoshe bezemidlalo emcimbini eyayiseThekwini nasePort Elizabeth ngokwehlukana. Abasondelene naye bathi lokhu kugula sekwenze wangakwazi ngisho ukukhumbula kahle izinto ngisho nabantu abechitha nabo isikhathi eside kuthiwa akasakwazi ukubabona kahle. UMnguni (70) kuthiwa udonsa kanzima njengoba nezimoto zakhe sezidayisiwe.
Usesele nehhotela iMdantsane Hotel eseduze kwe-Orient Theatre lapho eqhathe khona izimpi eziningi. Yena noBerman baqala ukwazana ngowe-1988. UWelcome “Hawk” Ncita waba ingqwele yomhlaba abayikhiqizayo. UNcita, osengumakhosi, wabuya nebhande le-International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Featherweight ngokuhlula ngamaphuzu uFabrice Benichou eTel Aviv e-Israel ngowe-1990. UVuyani “The Beast” Bungu ungomunye wompetha abadumisa iNingizimu Afrika ngesikhathi eqopha umlando ngokuvikela leli bhande le-IBF amahlandla ali-13 ngowe-1994. UBungu walilaxaza leli bhande waphonsela inselelelo umpetha weWorld Boxing Organisation (WBO) Featherweight uNaseem “Prince” Hamed. Wahlulwa ngomngqimuzo womcacamezelo ngomzuliswano wesine eLondon e-England ngowezi-2000.
UMnguni, owayepheka ngebhodwe elincane osomankomane e-Eyethu Boxing Gym, wayesekhoneni likaZolani “Tiger” Petelo ngesikhathi edina amaphanta ebuya nesicoco se-IBF Straweight ngowezi-1997. UPetelo wadida uRatanapol Sor Vorapin waseThailand okwakucatshangwa ukuthi uzozidlela amahlanga kwazise wayesebhubhise amadoda angama-20 evikela lesi sicoco sakhe. Nokho inxele laseZwide ePort Elizabeth lamqeda ubungqwele ngokumnqoba ngomzuliswano wesine, baphuma bejabhile abantu ehholo. Abanye ompetha abakhiqizwe uMnguni oMbulelo “Slayer” Botile owaba umpetha womhlaba ezisindweni ezimbili. Waphatha ibhande le-IBF nele-International Boxing Organisation (IBO) ku-Featherweight nele-IBF kuBantamweight. NoMasibulele “Hawk” Makepula, osengumfundisi njengamanje, waphuma esandleni sale nkakha. Waba yingqwele kuWBO Junior Flyweight naku-IBO Flyweight. Umfowabo kaMzimase uSihle ukuqinisekile ukuthi le nkakha isabambekile. “Uphuma engena esibhedlela. Uthi uzwa ubuhlungu emzimbeni kanti futhi nesandla sakhe sobunxele asisebenzi kahle. Ungumuntu ohlale elele. Sicela abantu bakuleli basithandazise.