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Nkosilathi Sibanda /Fungai Muderere
EDMUND Davies Hall in Hwange was filled to the brim and there was jostling as crowds peeped through windows to watch various bouts pitting contestants at the National Youth Games here in Hwange.
Aptly timed to coincide with the biggest boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Conor McGregor at the weekend, the youth games final match promises to attract the same fever pitch excitement.
The contest, also known as a�?The Money Fighta�?, is a clash between undefeated eleven-time professional boxing great Mayweather Jr who intends to floor Conor who is the current UFC Lightweight Champion.
In Hwange, the youth games champions will be crowned on Friday while a�?The Money Fighta�? is billed for the next day.
A fun-filled boxing treat beckons for boxing lovers at the youth games.
Talk is all about boxing in Hwange this week, proof that the sport commands a following in the coal mining town. It is either you talk boxing or nothing at all.
Attendance at Edmund Davies Hall has put boxing as the most popular sport in the 2017 edition of the games, outdoing athletics and netball. Fights were held after sunset, probably the right time to trade leather and give spectators the appropriate sundowner entertainment.
Audiences comprised local residents who kept on cheering boxers representing Matabeleland North province. The support worked well for host fighters who have managed to progress to the finals.
Guided by the renowned gaffer Mpilisi Moyo, Matabeleland North boxers have all the edge to bring down the house at the final show of the contests.
Moyo told B-Metro sport that he had made sure that his boys do not lose a fight.
a�?We prepared well for this. All that we want is to collect gold.a�?
Matabeleland Northa��s biggest rivals are Bulawayo and Masvingo. These provinces are known to produce good boxers who make an impression at international youth contests.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe National Youth Games pool finals will be held on Friday at Hwangea��s Don Bosco Hall amid revelations that Team Bulawayo is heavily tipped to do well.
The Bulawayo Under-23 pool squad, which beat Mashonaland Central and Harare on an identical 14-11 score line was on Thursday due to take on ZITSU in their last group match.
Bulawayo Under-23 pool team manager John Mahachi said he was optimistic that his charges were going to do well.
City of Kings and Queens Under-18 pool team manager Qhelisumuzi Dube said his five-member team was raring to go ahead of the singles contest.
a�?We have not played since Monday as some provinces did not bring full squads for one reason or another. In that regard, the Under-18 contest will now be competed for in a singles format. We are going to take on players from Harare and Manicaland provinces. There is also only one player from Mashonaland East who is going to compete.
Ita��s going to be a round robin and the top three players will get the medals,a�? said Dube.
He added: a�?I think we are going to emulate the provincesa�� Under-23 team and do well to make the entire Bulawayo proud.a�?
The Under-18 pool team, which saw Masunda brothers Trynos and Lynos being dropped at the last minute after they failed to produce their original birth documents, comprises Givemore Chipatapata, Inobubele Nkala, Frank Reid, Proud Mathema and Mqhele Ndlovu.
Londile Moyo