It will be an emotional return to East London for Xolisani "Nomeva" Ndongeni when he takes on Carlos Roberto Rodriguez from Argentina in non-title 10-rounder next month, the boxer said yesterday.

IT WILL be an emotional return to East London for Xolisani "Nomeva" Ndongeni when he takes on Carlos Roberto Rodriguez from Argentina in non-title 10-rounder next month, the boxer said yesterday.

"Eish!" exclaimed Ndongeni. "I don't want to lie. Much as I am excited to be going back home. I am also worried because this will be very emotional for me, fighting at home without my former trainer Chief [Njekanye] in my corner.

"I love him so much because he did not only train me but he did everything. I will make sure that I invite him to my fight."

When Ndongeni joined Colin Nathan in Johannesburg in March, he did not only leave a myriad fans aghast, he also left long-time trainer Njekanye hurt.

Njekanye had trained Ndongeni until the boxer graduated to the professional ranks, where he won the SA and WBF junior-lightweight, SA and IBO International lightweight belts, and Dicksy Ngqula's Premier Boxing League, for which he has still not been paid.

Andile Sidinile's tournament at Orient Theatre on September 4 will be headlined by the fight for the vacant WBA International bantamweight title between Zolani Tete and Diuhl Olguin Ramirez from Mexico .