Amateur Boxers in Botswana, At Own Expense

11 May 2011

THE national boxing team finally left for the Africa Boxing Confederation’s Zone Four Championships in Botswana on Sunday, but only after the Namibia Amateur Boxing Federation (NABF) scrambled for funds to get the 10 boxers there.

NABF secretary general Joe Kaperu told Nampa from Gaborone yesterday that the Federation had to source its own funds, because the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) had not received any funding from the Sport Ministry.

Last week Kaperu said technicalities between NABF and the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) were hampering the boxers’ participation at the tournament.

“They have not received their budget (allocation) for the current financial year”, Kaperu said.

Namibia was initially slated to host the boxing event but infighting coupled with what Kaperu claimed was “deliberate sabotage” by the NSC led to Botswana getting the tournament. Namibia’s light-flyweight boxer Japhet Uutoni was set to trade blows against Raymond Randrian Janaca from Madagascar in a three-round bout yesterday, while bantamweight Simon Johannes was poised to face Ayabonga Sonjica from South Africa at the Botswana Agricultural College.

The competition ends on Saturday, and the Namibian team is expected to return on Sunday morning.

Other bouts are scheduled as follows: Tuesday – Middleweight category: Elias Nashevela (Namibia) v Oliver Louise Cedric (Mauritius); Wednesday – Flyweight category: Andreas Amupolo (Namibia) v Nkhwanazi Sithembizo (Swaziland); Lightweight category: Titus Aiyambo (Namibia) vs Jonathan Sutton (Mauritius); Light-welterweight category: Michael Kavari (Namibia) vs Gaasete Gomotsang (Botswana).

AllAfrica – All the Time