Beating the rich man's blues with boxing lessons for township kids

17 July 2016 - 02:00 By EDDIE BOTHA

Wealthy Constantia resident Cassian Coquelle has swapped his Ferrari for a microbus to ferry underprivileged teens to the boxing school he built with his inheritance.Coquelle has used some of the money he and his sister, Tamzyn Botha, received from the R550-million sale of his father's company, Partquip, in 2014, to set up the nonprofit boxing academy in Muizenberg, Cape Town. Botha, who lives overseas, also contributes to the academy through sponsorship.The teens get gloves, protection equipment, boxing boots and their own mouth guards. The Box Academy also has desks where they can do their homework, as well as changing rooms and showers.Coquelle, a former partner at Webber Wentzel law firm, decided to open the boxing academy after reading an article by Professor Jonathan Jansen, vice-chancellor of the University of the Free State, in The Times last year."Jansen said that instead of talking ourselves into a depression we should do something ... whatever our skills and interests. Solve a problem by giving part of your salary to bursaries for poor students or volunteer services in a township."Coquelle said he had always liked surfing and boxing - he was a member of The Harrington Street and The Armoury boxing clubs - and felt that if he was going to spend money on something like a boxing gym he may as well manage it.For assistance, he called on his former coach, Jongi Kamko."Jongi is a legend in Khayelitsha. He set up a boxing training project in a shack with one punching bag and one pair of gloves and even helped youngsters with their homework on a Saturday morning."Kamko is in awe of what his former boxing student has achieved in such a short time.Coquelle bought a used warehouse at Capricorn Business Park in Muizenberg in the middle of last year and revamped it. The gym opened on January 13 and is also registered as an amateur boxing club.For many of the youngsters who joined The Box it has been their first time using a flush toilet or shower.Coquelle now plans to appoint a tutor to help the kids with homework. He also plans to set up a feeding scheme, as many have not eaten all day when they arrive in the afternoon.Coquelle also had to buy new sneakers for those who did not have shoes."The coach is very strict that no one will enter the ring barefoot," he said.The Box Academy has 25 members, male and female."Many kids struggle to get here. I now pay for a taxi to collect and drop off kids three afternoons a week."His VW Caravelle is now used mostly for taking the teens to tournaments on weekends.Coquelle has support from Isaac Goliat, a Muizenberg community leader and EFF ward candidate, who brought kids from the area to the gym."Coquelle is an example to other people. What I like about him is that he is hands-on. He does not sit and delegate, he is directly involved," said Goliat.Schoolboy Nqaba Dantile, 13, said he wanted to box to protect himself against the gangsters who rule parts of the townships: "I want to become a pro ... a champ." His father was stabbed to death in a tavern on Christmas Day 2014.Sibulele Mangqu, 15, has been boxing for two weeks. "This gets us off the streets where there are lots of gangs."Athi Mgudlwa, 20, is an example of the club's healing potential. He joined a gang when he was 11, dropped out of school and began taking drugs. Two years ago he decided to turn his life around with the help of Kamko. Today he is in peak physical shape and aims to become a professional boxer and buy a house for his mother...

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