New SAA chief has sparring background

LEONARD NEILL KHAYA NGQULA faced a crossroads decision 10 years ago which may well have seen him heading sporting bodies instead of filling the CEO chair at SAA, had chosen that direction. Ngqula hails from a strong sporting family background in the Eastern Cape, and was under pressure to take up the post of CEO to the South African National Boxing Commission soon after the ANC came to power. He is a man steeped in ring sport knowledge. Nephew Dicksey Ngqula is today one of SABCTV’s top sports presenters. It was at the Carousel north of Pretoria during a major international tournament in 1984 that heads of the boxing authority - now known as Boxing SA - urged him to take up the vacant post at the head of the sport in this country. But Ngqula had other plans, and accepted, instead, the post at the top of the ailing Norwich insurance company, which he turned around successfully into a profitable organisation. That led to his appointment as chief of the Industrial Development Corporation. Ten years ago he made it clear that while he felt his destiny was in the business world, he would remain loyal to the needs of sport and would provide his great love - boxing - with whatever support he could offer it from a back seat position. True to his word, boxing has continued to benefit from his knowledge when called upon. Now the burly man with the soft handshake faces the task of revitalising SAA.