Zanele Kebeni: Our own National Boxing champion
In March 2017, Zanele represented Eastern Cape Boxing at the Inter-provincial Games against KwaZulu-Natal, from where she was selected to represent the Eastern Cape at the South African National Amateur Boxing Organization’s (SANABO) trials held in Welkom, Free State from 15th - 18th of March 2017.
There she secured one of her great achievements as a female boxer, by winning the SANABO trials in Welkom. Now, for the first time in her life, she was selected to join the South African Boxing Team. She will be representing South Africa in upcoming events against other International Female Boxing Teams. For this young woman it’s a dream come true and she is looking forward to pursue her talent and career in boxing. The department of Human Movement Science is very proud of her achievements and we wish her all of the best as a future female boxing champion. Her career so far is remarkable.
Zanele started boxing early in 2014 when she was introduced to a small boxing club (Sunrise Boxing Club, East London), where she developed her passion for boxing. She had her first fight early in May 2014 at the Mdantsane indoor sport center. She outperformed her opponent showing precise style and talent. She continued from there to represent the BCM (Buffalo City Municipality) at the ECABO (Eastern Cape Amateur Boxing Organization) trials. In her boxing career so far, she won 72 of the 77 fights she had. She represented the Eastern Cape 3 times at the South African National Boxing Organization (SANABO) championship.
In 2015 she enrolled at University of Fort Hare where she is currently studying a Bachelor of Health Science in Human Movement Science. Driven by passion, she continued with her boxing at varsity and she became a member of the UFH Boxing Club, trained by Luthando Mkwini (a professional boxer) from Libode, Transkei. She kept her passion alive, winning non-stop as she represented the UFH in boxing. At the 2016 USSA games, which were held at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, she won by knockouts against her WSU and NWU opponents. She was then selected to represent the USSA team in Thailand. Due to financial problems, she couldn’t afford to go and compete in Thailand. This did not deter her from pursuing her career, as she is determined and motivated to achieve her goals in life. In November 2016, Zanele was nominated as the boxer of the year at the University of Fort Hare’s Great Achievers Awards. She is a valued role model for female athletes, presenting her confidence and skill whenever she has the chance. Congratulations on your success so far.