Boxing suffers Covid-19 blow

Fungai Muderere
AFTER agreeing terms to provide his business outlet Sizinda South Beer Garden as the venue for the Zimbabwe Boxing Federation Annual General Meeting and a national tournament two months ago, Highlanders’ treasurer Donald Ndebele says it was with a heavy heart to accept the events’ postponement owing to the country’s Covid-19 response.

Sporting activity has been prohibited in the country from March because of measures in place to stop the spread of Covid-19.

According to consultations that recently took place between the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), Zimbabwe National Paralympic Committee, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee and national sports associations, boxing is not part of low risk sports that could resume during the Level Two Lockdown meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus, as per the consultative document.

“We were fully geared to provide venue for the two major national boxing events that were going to take place on the same day. Our dream as a business entity was to bring boxing to the people of Bulawayo. It is a wish which has just been delayed and as such we will not lose heart.

While we still remain committed to help develop boxing, we valued life. There is no way that we can risk people’s lives. The game hasn’t been cleared yet and the safety of the boxers and spectators has to be prioritised,” said Ndebele.

Steven Masiyambumbi, the ZBF technical director said the postponed March tournament was going to provide boxers with an ideal preparatory platform for an international friendly contest against Mozambique and Swaziland which was scheduled for April.

On the reason for having the tournament and their Annual General Meeting in Sizinda, Masiyambumbi said there was a realisation that it is an excellent venue with turnouts having been good.

“We have realised that Sizinda is a good venue, the turnout has been good and we are getting support from the community. Our aim is to take boxing to every community in Bulawayo and go back to the heydays where boxing was a top spot in Bulawayo. We still believe we can go back to those days. We would like to thank the owner of the venue, he has been really supportive,’’ Masiyambumbi said.

Meanwhile, the Victoria Falls Boxing Academy is reportedly taking the search for the next boxing champion deep into the villages of Matabeleland North Province as the institution ramps up initiatives to sign more young boxers to the stable.

The academy director and coach Tobias Muposiwa is on record saying his first scouting trip to Monde Village, about 20 kilometres outside the resort of town of Victoria Falls, was an eye opener.

“There is so much enthusiasm among the rural boys to try boxing and as an academy we just have to avail resources and train the kids. The biggest challenge is that a number of the boys are not going to school, which is one area we need to sit down and see how we can assist. Our target is to sign a number of young boys from the village, assist them with school fees and take it from there,” Muposiwa was quoted as saying.

In December last year, the academy opened its doors to the public and is fully furnished with boxing and gym equipment.