22 April 2011
THE cream of Zambian boxers will today converge at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) for a two-day Zambia Amateur Boxing Federation national tournament which is part of the preparations for the All Africa Games (AAG) in Mozambique this September.
ZABF president Stephen Simpemba said in Lusaka yesterday that this would be an important competition on the federation’s calendar because it would help in preparing for the All Africa Games and the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) scheduled for the United Kingdom later this year.
ZABF president Stephen Simpemba said the preparations will also be used to measure the boxers’ fitness and preparedness for the two
international tournaments. Simpemba said the boxers; Africa’s Light-middle weight Under-20 Champion, Benny Muziyo from Green Buffaloes, Light flyweight Chris Katanga from Zambia National Service (ZNS), Flyweight Obed Mutapa from Indeni and Bantamweight Mumbela Mukuni, will showcase their skill.
Simpemba said Lawrence Mwikuta from Maamba, Lightweight Adrian Sianga from Nakambala, Welterweight U-20 SADC Games Gold medallist Hector Mutole from Green Buffaloes, Gilbert Choombe from Maamba and Middleweight Godfrey Mumba from Kalewa will also be in attendance at the event.
He also said the tournament will feature the CYG bound boxers that comprises Bwalya Lumbwe and Emmanuel Ngandwe from Mufulira, Caristor Bwalya from Ndola City Council (NCC), Binwell Chupa, Rusel Mwamba from Indeni, Jeremiah Nkonge from Kalewa and others from Southern Province.
Simpemba said the two-day tournament would be used to gauge the fitness and standards of the boxers who for the last four years have been under intensive training under the four-year talent identification programme and have had enough international exposure. Meanwhile Simpemba has confirmed that the Zone Four international tournament that was slated for April this year in Namibia has been shifted to Botswana and scheduled for May 9- 15.
He said ZABF was scouting for K40 Million to send a team of eight boxers to Botswana for the tournament that will be used as an Olympic qualifier as well as an international ratings tournament for the boxers.
Simpemba appealed to the business community to assist ZABF with funds saying the event was important; arguing that boxing has been the only medal winning sport for Zambia but has received little assistance from the corporate world.
“We are pleading to business houses to assist us with funding as this tournament is so important. Boxing has been the only medal winning sport for Zambia but has received little assistance,” Simpemba said.
AllAfrica – All the Time
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