Local boxing fans are bemoaning the quality of ring announcers in the country at large and in Limpopo in particular. Some are even questioning the whereabouts of Limpopo's first professional ring announcer, Mashudu Siaga, who was once a marvel to watch.
A Limpopo Mirror journalist bumped into the soft-spoken ring announcer in Thohoyandou on Monday afternoon and inquired about his disappearance from the boxing scene.
Siaga took a deep breath before explaining that he had not renewed his licence because there are very few boxing tournaments happening in Limpopo, while promoters are also reluctant to pay ring announcers fairly.
"I was a boxing announcer just for the love of the sport; otherwise, I was not even going to last a month. I used to pay R500 to renew my licence, but promoters would give us very little compared to the job we were doing in the ring," he said.
Siaga, who hails from Luheni village in the Rammbuda area, became a professional ring announcer in 1998. While working as a police officer, he also served as a boxing analyst for various radio stations, including Phalaphala FM.
When asked about his influences as a ring announcer, Siaga mentioned Michael Buffer, regarded as one of the best international ring announcers, and South Africa's Desmond Sono. Siaga's favourite boxer is "Sugar" Ray Leonard, while his favourites locally were Vhalinavho Matamela and Zachariah Mudau.
He added that during his time as a boxing analyst for Univen FM in the late 1990s, he was encouraged by former Univen FM and Phalaphala FM sports presenter Thilivhali "The Big T" Muavha. "He played a big role in my career as a ring announcer and was always encouraging me to work harder in order to be the best," he said.
When asked if he would consider returning to the sport if a good offer came up, Siaga said he would consider it and take it from there. "The problem with boxing at the moment is that only the promoters are making money, while the supporting staff fight for the leftovers. I am still available, but not for peanuts," he said.