Namibia: Haikali Dismisses Tjombe Link

Sheefeni Nikodemus

30 June 2011

WBO Africa lightweight champion Martin Haikali yesterday said a report linking him to boxing promoter Anita Tjombe is false and misleading.

According to a new local weekly newspaper, Haikali recently jumped ship to join Tjombe following a fallout with his manager and promoter, Nestor Tobias. This came after another publication had claimed he was planning to beat up Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses, which Haikali also dismissed as a rumour.

Now, along with his trainer Tobias Nashilongo, he has rubbished the defection report too. Although Haikali confirmed that Tjombe had contacted him on Friday to offer him a fight, he referred the former Onkugo Boxing Promotions iron lady to his trainer Nashilongo and manager Tobias.

“I’m not with Anita (Tjombe),” Haikali told The Namibian Sport.

“I don’t know where these people get their stories from. I’m a professional boxer and there are correct ways that can be used to get to me. Please stop trying to make my name dirty.”

Nashilongo said: “We are not aware of it (Tjombe link). All my boxers have to be contacted through me before they can be promoted by anyone. I never discussed something like this with Anita Tjombe.”

While Tobias chose not to comment, Nashilongo added that he and the promoter were the first port of call if Tjombe was interested in Haikali’s services.

“I will not turn down a chance for a fight for any of my boxers but it must be discussed between me and Haikali’s manager,” he said. “Everything goes through a channel.”

AllAfrica – All the Time