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Tyson visits Soweto school
31/01/2008 14:04 - (SA)
Johannesburg - About 1 500 Soweto pupils gathered at their high school in Moletsane on Thursday to catch a brief glimpse of former world boxing champion Mike Tyson.
The former heavyweight boxer arrived at the school at about 12:30 and spent about 20 minutes holding his fists in the air and walking through the throngs of students.
Student Thabo Ngomako said he was excited that the American had come to the school. However, he said Tyson was no longer his hero.
"He used to be my role model, but not anymore," he said referring to Tyson's criminal record, which includes a jail sentence for rape.
Headgirl of the school, Charmaine Mahopo, said that anyone with celebrity status would always draw criticism from other people.
"There will always be talk from critics. I'll never lose my trust in him."
Tyson held Mahopo's hand as he walked through the school assembly.
"He took my hand. It was so wow. I won't forget this day. I'm never going to wash my hand."
A teacher at the school, Theodore Chabedi, said all the children knew who Mike Tyson was.
"They all knew of him but some kids are ignorant," he said, referring to Tyson's ear-biting incident and rape conviction.
Tyson sped away in his black Jeep just before 13:00. Rumours that he was going to stop at Nelson Mandela's old house and visit a squatter camp were quashed by his marketing agents.
- SAPA
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