The grand young man of SA boxing
SECONDS out, this is the 12th and final round, boxers shake hands.
Then he rings the bell, ting, ting, ting but just before boxers get into serious business, he says "hololo" which can be translated as "wafawafa - do or die" and a deafening noise descends.
This is the appropriate way to introduce the affable Stanley Hlekani Sono, affectionately referred to as the "Father of South African boxing".
The legendary boxing administrator, who is otherwise known as "Sir Stan", calls himself "S.O.N.O".
He is famous for many things including his joke "KISS".
He says he always made long speeches when addressing people. One evening during a break his wife Gladys sent him a note written "KISS" and he thought it was an inspiration to speak more and longer, so he continued talking until he was through.
Sono then went to her to ask what the message really meant. To his disappointment she said it meant "keep it short, stupid" because people were bored by his speeches, he says with laughter.
That is Sono, whose outstanding administration skills in football and boxing earned him the State President's Sports Merit Award in 1980. He also received the Order of Ikamanga from Kgalema Motlanthe, the deputy president, in 2008.
Sono was cousin of the late Eric "Scara" Bamuza Sono of Orlando Pirates, father of Ephraim "Jomo" Sono, owner of Jomo Cosmos FC.
Sono was an all-rounder, having taken part in many sporting codes including rugby and cricket. He toured the then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and captained the selected football side in 1957 and later joined Western Young Tigers Football Club of Orlando Shanty Town.
Nicknamed "Yahosh' Imamba", Sono played for Moroka Swallows FC alongside soccer legends like Difference "City Council" Mbanya and Eliakim "Pro" Khumalo before later becoming a soccer administrator.
He was secretary at Swallows, assistant secretary of the Johannesburg Bantu Football Association the Southern Transvaal Football Association.
Sono says he boxed from school and became midget-weight champion before winning the Transvaal bantamweight championship in the seniors. But he never boxed professionally. He was later employed by the Johannesburg City Council as a sports organiser and it was then that he took up boxing administration at amateur level. He excelled as secretary in local, district, provincial and national organisations.
Sono was a senior boxing coach of the first black team to take part in the first ever multiracial championships during the SA Games in 1971 and was honoured with a gold medal by then sports minister Piet Koornhof. The trainer of the Springbok team that boxed against the USA Golden Gloves team in 1978, Sono was later given honorary lifetime membership of the Greater Soweto, Southern Transvaal and SA Amateur Boxing Union. He is a founder member of the SA National Amateur Boxing Organisation.
Sono took Magasela down memory lane:
Where did it all start?
I joined the professional ranks as a referee and judge in 1982. I am also founder member of the SA National Boxing Control Commission and served as tournament supervisor locally and internationally.
What other achievements and changes did you bring about in the game?
I initiated the groundwork in the establishment of the Baby Champs in 2005 and was honoured with a Lifetime Award in 2006 and awarded a Boxing South Africa blazer.
Whose lives did you change as an administrator?
I played a major role as an administrator producing athletes who currently hold senior positions and capacities at their places of employment and in the community at large. The list includes Mathews Motshwarateu, James Maluza, Moses Molaba, Mandla Sithole, Jomo Sono, Neo Lechaba, Marks Maponyane and many more.
[NB: Sono's achievements require about three pages, so we couldn't include all of them due to space constraints.]
What exactly did you want to be as a sportsman?
A soccer player because it was in my blood.
What made you leave football and dedicate yourself to boxing?
At work they wanted us to specialise in one sporting code although some of us had knowledge of all sports codes. I preferred boxing administration because there was a lack of administrators in our township. So I filled in that gap.
At 76 years old you still attend boxing tournaments regularly. Where do you get all the energy?
I'm fighting fit (laughs loudly).
How do you serve boxing now?
As a timekeeper and occasionally I assist as supervisor for WBC-sanctioned fights in Africa when the board of governors' Peter Ngatane is not available.
Who have you groomed as timekeeper?
Gabo Sikipha (a female official). I also trained close to 60% of the present crop of officials and also held workshops in Namibia and Botswana.
When do you intend calling it a day?
Well, until death do us part.
LEGENDS CORNER: Stanley Hlekani Sono
The grand young man of SA boxing
SECONDS out, this is the 12th and final round, boxers shake hands.
Then he rings the bell, ting, ting, ting but just before boxers get into serious business, he says "hololo" which can be translated as "wafawafa - do or die" and a deafening noise descends.
This is the appropriate way to introduce the affable Stanley Hlekani Sono, affectionately referred to as the "Father of South African boxing".
The legendary boxing administrator, who is otherwise known as "Sir Stan", calls himself "S.O.N.O".
He is famous for many things including his joke "KISS".
He says he always made long speeches when addressing people. One evening during a break his wife Gladys sent him a note written "KISS" and he thought it was an inspiration to speak more and longer, so he continued talking until he was through.
Sono then went to her to ask what the message really meant. To his disappointment she said it meant "keep it short, stupid" because people were bored by his speeches, he says with laughter.
That is Sono, whose outstanding administration skills in football and boxing earned him the State President's Sports Merit Award in 1980. He also received the Order of Ikamanga from Kgalema Motlanthe, the deputy president, in 2008.
Sono was cousin of the late Eric "Scara" Bamuza Sono of Orlando Pirates, father of Ephraim "Jomo" Sono, owner of Jomo Cosmos FC.
Sono was an all-rounder, having taken part in many sporting codes including rugby and cricket. He toured the then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and captained the selected football side in 1957 and later joined Western Young Tigers Football Club of Orlando Shanty Town.
Nicknamed "Yahosh' Imamba", Sono played for Moroka Swallows FC alongside soccer legends like Difference "City Council" Mbanya and Eliakim "Pro" Khumalo before later becoming a soccer administrator.
He was secretary at Swallows, assistant secretary of the Johannesburg Bantu Football Association the Southern Transvaal Football Association.
Sono says he boxed from school and became midget-weight champion before winning the Transvaal bantamweight championship in the seniors. But he never boxed professionally. He was later employed by the Johannesburg City Council as a sports organiser and it was then that he took up boxing administration at amateur level. He excelled as secretary in local, district, provincial and national organisations.
Sono was a senior boxing coach of the first black team to take part in the first ever multiracial championships during the SA Games in 1971 and was honoured with a gold medal by then sports minister Piet Koornhof. The trainer of the Springbok team that boxed against the USA Golden Gloves team in 1978, Sono was later given honorary lifetime membership of the Greater Soweto, Southern Transvaal and SA Amateur Boxing Union. He is a founder member of the SA National Amateur Boxing Organisation.
Sono took Magasela down memory lane:
Where did it all start?
I joined the professional ranks as a referee and judge in 1982. I am also founder member of the SA National Boxing Control Commission and served as tournament supervisor locally and internationally.
What other achievements and changes did you bring about in the game?
I initiated the groundwork in the establishment of the Baby Champs in 2005 and was honoured with a Lifetime Award in 2006 and awarded a Boxing South Africa blazer.
Whose lives did you change as an administrator?
I played a major role as an administrator producing athletes who currently hold senior positions and capacities at their places of employment and in the community at large. The list includes Mathews Motshwarateu, James Maluza, Moses Molaba, Mandla Sithole, Jomo Sono, Neo Lechaba, Marks Maponyane and many more.
[NB: Sono's achievements require about three pages, so we couldn't include all of them due to space constraints.]
What exactly did you want to be as a sportsman?
A soccer player because it was in my blood.
What made you leave football and dedicate yourself to boxing?
At work they wanted us to specialise in one sporting code although some of us had knowledge of all sports codes. I preferred boxing administration because there was a lack of administrators in our township. So I filled in that gap.
At 76 years old you still attend boxing tournaments regularly. Where do you get all the energy?
I'm fighting fit (laughs loudly).
How do you serve boxing now?
As a timekeeper and occasionally I assist as supervisor for WBC-sanctioned fights in Africa when the board of governors' Peter Ngatane is not available.
Who have you groomed as timekeeper?
Gabo Sikipha (a female official). I also trained close to 60% of the present crop of officials and also held workshops in Namibia and Botswana.
When do you intend calling it a day?
Well, until death do us part.
This article was first published in the printed newspaper and eEdition on 26 September 2012. Click on this link to view the eEdition
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos