Rather than walking away from boxing after his defeat, Sidzumo chose to pass on his knowledge to children in the township.<\/p>\n
Mnyamana, meanwhile, had already developed a passion for the sport while working for a company that sponsored amateur boxing tournaments in Mdantsane.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs someone with a first aid qualification, I used to be heavily involved in those tournaments,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy interest developed further during Mzolisi Yoyo\u2019s SA title reign, so I used to go to his fights to cheer for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ironically, it was Yoyo\u2019s rivalry with Sidzumo that eventually brought the couple together.<\/p>\n
When Yoyo split two fights against Sidzumo, Mnyamana found herself drawn to the boxer she had initially not supported.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would not say I fell in love with him because he beat Yoyo, but things started there,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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(SUPPLIED) <\/p>\n
As more children from the area approached Sidzumo asking to be trained, the couple eventually opened the Young Assassins Boxing Club.<\/p>\n
The club initially focused on amateur tournaments and quickly built a strong reputation at grassroots level, particularly in Knuckle tournaments featuring young boxers.<\/p>\n
Many of those children have since progressed through the amateur ranks and are now beginning to make their mark professionally.<\/p>\n
Last weekend, two of the club\u2019s prospects \u2014 Luthando Ntsangani and Siphiwe Base \u2014 made successful professional debuts during Busi J Promotions\u2019 inaugural tournament in NU7 Mdantsane.<\/p>\n
Base displayed composure and ring intelligence before stopping Likho Mshweshwe in the second round of their flyweight contest.<\/p>\n
Ntsangani, a southpaw, stopped Khanya Sgentseni in the opening round of their mini-flyweight bout.<\/p>\n
The pair increased the number of professional fighters produced by the gym to four, following in the footsteps of Siyamthanda Mbali, who recently upset previously unbeaten former amateur standout Sinovuyo \u201cPink One\u201d Mthintelwa to claim the provincial flyweight title.<\/p>\n
All the fighters carry the \u201cAssassin\u201d nickname in honour of the club.<\/p>\n
People have not seen anything yet<\/p>\n
Base is known as the \u201cSilent Assassin\u201d because of his calculated style, Mbali is the \u201cAggressive Assassin\u201d, while Ntsangani fights under the name \u201cVicious Assassin\u201d.<\/p>\n
Sidzumo believes more talent is still to emerge from the gym.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have not seen anything yet,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Through a partnership with Ground Up Sports Promotion, the club hopes to keep its young fighters active and focused, reducing the risk of them drifting towards crime, substance abuse or other destructive influences.<\/p>\n
But despite the success, the couple say the financial strain remains significant.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe fund them out of our own pockets for transport and other necessities,\u201d said Mnyamana, who handles the administrative side of the gym.<\/p>\n
The couple say proper nutrition, transport and training equipment remain some of their biggest challenges.<\/p>\n
For Mnyamana, the club\u2019s success represents a remarkable turnaround from the heartbreak she experienced watching Sidzumo\u2019s career-ending defeat while pregnant with their daughter, Nalubabalo.<\/p>\n
Now a constant presence around the gym, Nalubabalo, whose name means \u201chere is the glory\u201d, has become a reminder of how far the family has come.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur daughter is testimony to our boxing journey up to this stage,\u201d Mnyamana said.<\/p>\n