THOHOYANDO – Boxing hero Phillip “Time Bomb” Ndou shocked the people of South Africa when he announced his retirement from the sport last Wednesday.

Phillip Ndou from Thohoyandou hanged up his gloves after undergoing a brain scan and the doctors advising him to quit boxing as soon as possible to avoid serious injuries.

Phillip’s mother, Mboniseni Nemukula, urged the people not to despair, as it is God’s wish for her son to quit boxing at a tender age. She said that Phillip still has a chance to pursue a career in business.

Well-known Limpopo boxer Cassius Baloyi said Phillip was a tough boxer who represented the whole of South Africa, especially the people of the Limpopo Province. His contribution to boxing played a significant role in Limpopo, as there are several young boxers who pursue boxing because of Phillip.

The Limpopo MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Joe Maswanganyi, expressed his sadness at the news that Limpopo’s Boxing Hero, Phillip Ndou, is to hang up his gloves. “It is sad that we have to lose a boxer par excellence,” MEC Maswanganyi said. “He has been an inspiration to our young people in this country, particularly in his province, Limpopo,” he said. “He had defied assertions that, to be a hero, you need to come from an affluent suburb and family. From his humble beginnings, he rose and lifted the flag of his country wherever he fought, and little did we know that his career would be cut short,” said MEC Maswanganyi.

Maswanganyi called on South Africans, particularly those in Limpopo Province, to give all the necessary support to this young legend whose heroism will always find space in the history books of sport. “While he takes a rest from the ring, we shall, as government, still rely on his knowledge of the sport in identifying, nur-turing and developing our aspirant young boxers in our endeavors to get many young people into the mainstream of sport,” Maswanganyi added.

Limpopo ring announcer, Mr Mashudu Siaga, said it is a shock to the whole South Africa and the people of Limpopo to hear that Phillip Ndou is hanging up his gloves.