Emalahleni Local Municipality on Friday organised a welcoming ceremony for the new SA Junior Lightweight Champion, Lunga “The Pressure
Cooker” Sitemela, with his boxing management as they visited his home town of Dordrecht.
The ceremony took place on Friday, 10 June at the Mike Huna Community Hall in Dordrecht in front of his family
and the community.
His visit was an inspiration to young people of his
hometown of Dordrecht under Emalahleni Local Municipality in the Chris Hani
District and the province at large who aspire to follow in his footsteps.
Boxing is one of the sporting codes that could change
the life of many young people.
‘The Pressure Cooker’ as Sitemela is affectionately
known in the boxing industry, is originally from Dordrecht, but is currently is based
in the Western Cape. He is one of the prominent boxers in South Africa as he
fought in a number of bouts.
Sitemela was so excited to come back home and
encouraged upcoming young boys to believe their dreams regardless of the
background.
“It
is the most exciting thing for me to come back to my hometown and be with my
people, I belong here in Dordrecht. I am an Eastern Cape boy. To be among the
people of Dordrecht and celebrate with them is one of the most important and
enjoyable things. My people are so warm and generous. This is also a testimony
that if you work hard, success will come no matter where you come from,” he said.
Sitemela is fighting under Brice’s Boxing Academy. Last month he took the title of SA Junior Lightweight champion during the ESPN Africa Tournament
in Gauteng.
Excitement was evident
on the faces of his family and Dordrecht residents as a whole.
Emalahleni Executive
Mayor, Nontombizanele Koni, praised Sitemela and congratulated him on his
achievement in Gauteng.
“He has made us proud and
has put the name of Dordrecht on the world stage,” said Koni.
