Boxers in final prep tourney for Youth Games

Bukhosi Mangena Sports Correspondent
PUGILISTS who will represent Bulawayo at next week’s Zimbabwe National Youth Games in Mutare will trade leather in a final preparatory tournament set for Manor Hotel tomorrow.

The 13th edition of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games will run from August 15-23 in Mutare.

Bulawayo’s provincial boxing coach Mike Foloma said they will be taking along a squad of 15 boxers — 10 boys and five girls to the Eastern border town.

The pugilists participating at the Zimbabwe National Youth Games will trade leather in the light flyweight (46-48kg), flyweight (48-52kg), bantamweight (52-56kg), lightweight (56-60kg), light welterweight (60-66kg), welterweight (66071kg), light middleweight (71-75kg), middleweight (75-81kg) and heavyweight (81 plus kg).

Foloma said most of the boxers who will represent the city were recruited from Sikhulile High, Nketa High, Lobengula High and Nkulumane High.

He said he was confident that Bulawayo’s boxing team which contributed a significant number of medals to their province at last year’s National Youth Games will reclaim their dominance in the juniors sector.

“Our preparations have been going very well and we are confident of bringing home medals,” said Floma.

Bulawayo’s boxing team won gold in 2013 and last year came second to Masvingo.

Girls: Bridgette Ncube (Bantamweight), Sehliselwe Nhliziyo (lightweight), Princess Nkomo (welterweight), Karin Masiyambumbi (light-bantamweight), Linet Dlamini (lightweight), Nozibusiso Khumalo (featherweight), Albetina Phiri (light-middleweight)

Boys: Mbongeni Mathe (welterweight), Bongani Ndlovu (lightweight), Shadreck Machaya (lightweight), Define Jiyane (flyweight), Bright Ndiraya (light-flyweight), Matthew Ndlovu (lightweight), Zibusiso Nyoni (lightweight), Mengezi Mbambo (light-flyweight) Calvin Gatsheni (light-flyweight)