Boxing team coach reflects on World Championships

POOR preparations affected Zimbabwe’s boxing team that participated in the World Boxing Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan recently.

Marco Sibanda, who travelled with the team as coach, said they only learnt at the last minute that they were travelling.

“We were not sure whether or not the trip was going to be successful as we did not have the required funding and this affected the participants mentally. The morale during training was low and we only learnt a week before our travel that funding had been secured and as such we had just one week of serious training,” said Sibanda.

He expressed gratitude to the International Boxing Association (IBA) who paid for their air tickets and accommodation.

It was the first time since 2013 that Zimbabwe took part in the tournment held last month.

National boxing body technical director, Steven Masiyambumbi who travelled as a judge, also blamed the team’s poor showing to inadequate preparations and lack of sponsorship.

Masiyambumbi said due to lack of financial support for boxing, there were very limited activities locally.

He said Zimbabwe has the talent and all that is required is financial support to enable boxers to participate in local and international tournaments.

“We are appealing to Government to help us by funding the sport. We have to prepare for the African Championships to be held in Cameroon from July 26-August 6. This tournament will help us prepare for the Olympic Games Qualifiers,” said Masiyambumbi.

He said other countries such as Botswana were spending a lot of money on boxing but the story is different here.

“During the Olympic qualifiers, Botswana boxers camped in Cuba as part of their preparations but we could only afford to camp and train here,” said Masiyambumbi.

Cuba is among the top amateur boxing countries in the world.

Masiyambumbi said Hillary Joel Josam was among the many promising boxers in the country and should be supported to participate in international tournaments.