BOKSAAND 2025: AGTER DIE SKERMS

Abygail Smit

@Abysmit06

 

Op die NWU Potchefstroom kampus ervaar studente lewendige aksies, feeste en samesein so gereeld soos klogslag. ‘n Hoogtepunt elke jaar is die Boksaand tussen twee groot manskoshuise, Over de Voor en Excelsior. Hierdie jaar gaan dié geleentheid van groter as ooit wees. Dit is belangrik om te noem dat Over de Voor die aangebode geleentheid om hul kant van die storie te vertel, geweier het.

 

“Hierdie is nie ‘n braai nie, dit is nie ‘n skoonheidskompetisie nie, dit is boksaand. Ons sal kan sien wie en wat steek in elke manskoshuis weg.” Die woorde van Ivan Bouwer, Primarius van Excelsior, wat perfek die atmosfeer van die aand beskryf. ‘n Spesiale element van die boksaand is die deftige kleredrag wat gedra word, wat die ideale verskoning vir studente verskaf om hul gekreukelde pak, mooiste rok en beste paar skoene af te stof vir ‘n glansryke aand vol fantastiese gees en sport.

 

Hierdie jaar word daar grootliks gefokus op die boks- element van die aand. Boksaand 2025 het ‘n minimum van vyf gewigsklasse wat deelneem en Excelsior spog met twee tot drie boksers in elke klas wat elkeen op dieselfde vlak in terme van vaardighede is. Ivan “Daisy” Langeveldt, Excelsior boks-afrigter, verduidelik dat daar nie iets is soos ‘n plaasvervanger nie, maar eerder dat elke Excelsior deelnemer net nog ‘n goeie bokser is.

 

‘n Goeie mededinging tussen twee koshuise is baie vermaaklik vir enige iemand wat kyk. Over de Voor en Excelsior is beide sterk koshuise wat jaarliks in boksaand kompeteer om te kyk wie die ware manskoshuis op kampus is. Ethan “Guana” Herselman, ‘n ervare MMA sportsman, bokser en nou Excelsior se boks afrigter, verduidelik die kompetisie tussen Over de Voor en Excelsior soos volg: “Definitief ‘n baie groot en emotionele rivalry tussen die twee koshuise, meer as net ‘n boksaand rivalry. Ek sal dit beskryf as ‘n generational, tradition-based rivalry wat al jare aan die gang is.” Om teen so ‘n mededinging in ‘n ring te verdedig kan moeilik wees, daarom motiveer Herselman sy boksers deur hul selfvertroue te versterk en te verseker hulle kry genoeg oefening.

 

Die proses om ‘n goed afgeronde bokser te kweek is nie vir die met ‘n swak-geaardheid nie. “Ek glo elke Excelsior bokser sal sy lewe op die spel sit vir sy koshuis,” sê afrigter Langeveldt. ‘n Ervare bokser vanuit Excelsior verduidelik dat om boks fiks te wees, heel anders is as ander sporte. “In rugby het jy 14 manne wat agter jou staan wat elkeen die impak kan hanteer, maar met boks is dit net jy en jou opponent. Dit beteken die houe is baie harder en daarom is dit moeiliker om gefokus te bly.”

 

Soortgelyk aan elke sport, speel die skeidsregter ‘n groot rol in ‘n bokswedstryd. Excelsior kweek goeie boksers deur hulle in omstandighede af te rig wat dieselfde atmosfeer skep as boksaand self. Die afrigters van Excelsior maak seker hul boksers weet hoe skeidsregters sal optreë deur dit ‘n gewoonte te maak om kommentaar te lewer tydens oefeninge. ‘n Lewendige skare kan ‘n bokser maak of breek, maar ‘n derde jaar bokser in Excelsior verduidelik dat dit beter is om die skare uit te sny. “Baie mense hou daarvan om jou van die kant af te hap, veral Overs, maar om self in die ring te klim en te baklei is makliker gesê as gedaan. Op die ou eind moet jy net kalm bly, kophou en probeer wen.” Die laaste week voor Boksaand is baie stresvol, so om kalm te bly probeer meeste boksers hulle oorwinning visualiseer en net normaal oefen. ‘n Eerstejaar uit Excelsior wat hierdie jaar vir die eerste keer gaan boks, vertel dat hy self nie kan wag dat die skeidsregter sy hand oplig na ‘n wedstryd nie.

 

Om so ‘n aand te reël neem baie tyd, beplanning en passie vanaf beide koshuise. Volgens Keenan Griffiths, sosiale Huiskomittee (HK) lid van Excelsior, word alles rondom die boksaand professioneel hanteer van beide Excelsior en Over de Voor af. Laasjaar was die funksie in die Weet-en-Sweet se parkeerterrein gehou en alhoewel dit ‘n sukses was, word boksaand vanjaar opgekikker en terug geskuif na Snowflake. Toe hy gevra is oor sy opinie oor die perseël van boksaand, sê Bouwer die volgende: “Snowflake is dié venue in Potchefstroom en die grootste rivalry op kampus moet by die beste plek gehou word.” Griffiths verduidelik dat Snowflake die beste geriewe verskaf en is toegerus om hul beoogte rekord nommer mense te kan akkommodeer.

 

Boksaand 2025 behoort ‘n geesgedrewe funksie te wees met goeie sport en kunstenaars wat optreë. “Alhoewel dit nie die fokus is nie, is ek baie opgewonde om saam met een van Suid-Afrika se beste kunstenare te sing”, sê Bouwer. Griffiths verduidelik ook dat die hoogtepunt van die aand is om te sien wie die ware manskoshuis op die Wes-Kampus is. “ Pure entertainment van begin tot einde” sê Herselman. Merk die dag, 30 Augustus. Boksaand 2025 behoort een te wees om te onthou.

 

Boksaand 2024 – Instagram (Bron: Abygail Smit)

 

Teksversorging deur Simoné de Witt

 

English Translation:

 

At the NWU Potchefstroom campus, students experience lively aksies, festivals, and gatherings as regularly as clockwork. A highlight every year is the Boxing Night between two major male residences, Over de Voor and Excelsior. This year, this event is set to be bigger than ever. It is important to note that Over de Voor declined the opportunity offered to tell their side of the story.

 

“This is not a braai, it is not a beauty competition, it is Boxing Night. We will be able to see who and what is hiding in each men’s’ residence.” The words of Ivan Bouwer, Primarius of Excelsior, perfectly describe the atmosphere of the evening. A special element of Boxing Night is the formal attire worn, which provides the ideal excuse for students to dust off their wrinkled suits, finest dresses, and best pairs of shoes for a glamorous night full of fantastic spirit and sport.

 

This year, the focus is largely on the boxing element of the evening. Boxing Night 2025 has a minimum of five weight classes participating, and Excelsior boasts two to three boxers in each class, each at the same level in terms of skills. Ivan ‘Daisy’ Langeveldt, Excelsior boxing coach, explains that there is no such thing as a substitute, but rather that each Excelsior participant is just another good boxer.

 

A good competition between two residences is very entertaining for anyone watching. Over de Voor and Excelsior are both strong residences that compete annually on Boxing Night to see who the true men’s residence on campus is. Ethan ‘Guana’ Herselman, an experienced MMA sportsman, boxer, and now the boxing coach of Excelsior, describes the competition between Over de Voor and Excelsior as follows, “Definitely a very big and emotional rivalry between the two residences, more than just a Boxing Night rivalry. I would describe it as a generational, tradition-based rivalry that has been going on for years.” Defending in a ring in a competition like this can be difficult, which is why Herselman motivates his boxers by boosting their confidence and ensuring they get enough practice.

 

The process of developing a well-rounded boxer is not for the faint-hearted. “I believe every Excelsior boxer will stake their life for their residence,” says coach Langeveldt. An experienced boxer from Excelsior explains that being fit for boxing is very different from other sports. “In rugby, you have 14 men behind you who can each handle the impact, but with boxing, it’s just you and your opponent. This means the punches are much harder, and therefore it is more difficult to stay focused.”

 

Similar to every sport, the referee plays a major role in a boxing match. Excelsior trains great boxers by putting them in conditions that create the same atmosphere as the boxing night itself. The coaches of Excelsior make sure their boxers know how referees will act by making it a habit to comment during training sessions. A lively crowd can make or break a boxer, but a third-year boxer at Excelsior explains that it is better to block the crowd out. “Many people love to taunt you from the sidelines, especially Overs, but climbing into the ring and fighting yourself is easier said than done. In the end, you just have to stay calm, keep your head, and try to win.” The last week before Boxing Night is very stressful. To stay calm, most boxers try to visualize their victory and just train normally. A first-year student from Excelsior, who will box for the first time this year, says that he can’t wait to have the referee raise his hand after a match.

 

Organizing such an evening takes a lot of time, planning, and passion from both residences. According to Keenan Griffiths, a social House Committee (HC) member of Excelsior, everything surrounding the boxing night is handled professionally by both Excelsior and Over de Voor. Last year, the event was held in the Weet-en-Sweet parking lot, and although it was a success, Boxing Night is being upgraded this year and moved back to Snowflake. When asked about his opinion on the venue for boxing night, Bouwer said the following, “Snowflake is the venue in Potchefstroom, and the biggest rivalry on campus should be held at the best place.” Griffiths explains that Snowflake provides the best facilities and is equipped to accommodate their intended record number of people.

 

Boxing Night 2025 is expected to be an energetic event with great sports and artists performing. “Although it’s not the focus, I am very excited to sing with one of South Africa’s best artists,” says Bouwer. Griffiths also explains that the highlight of the evening is to see who the true men’s residence on the West Campus is. “Pure entertainment from start to finish,” says Herselman. Mark the day, August 30. Boxing Night 2025 is expected to be one to remember.

 

Boxing Night 2024 – Instagram (Source: Abygail Smit)

Translation by Simoné de Witt