daniel chigunwe
Gerald Sibanda
Sports Reporter
AFTER failing to make it to the African Boxing Championships, which were held in Cameroon, national team boxing coach Marco Sibanda is confident that the team will make it to the new Mandela African Boxing Cup which will take place from October 9 to 14.
The coach said that unlike in the previous tournaments, the financial backing in this one is much better, hence he is positive that he and his squad will travel to Durban.
“I can say that so far it is really promising and I am confident that we will make it to the tournament. We have been assured sponsorship from a prominent person whom I believe will deliver, therefore I am pretty much confident that we will make it to South Africa,” said Sibanda.
He and his boxing squad missed out on a life changing opportunity to participate in the African Boxing Championships which were held in Yaoundé Cameroon last month due to lack of funding.
Winners of the event were guaranteed US$100 000. Their last recognisable trip was the one they made to the World Championships which were held in Kazakhstan in April after they were sponsored by the International Boxing Association.
Sibanda and his troops will hope to have a fine performance which might help them individually, financially as International Boxing Association is also sponsoring the tournament.
Nine male boxers and two female boxers will grace the event, while the coach has also hinted that a couple of South African based boxers might join the squad in camp.
The Boxers
Men’s Team: Anesu Motsi, Luckmore Kamoto, Lwazi Mpofu, Blessing Sibanda, Tick Mudenda, Mandlenkosi Marusenga, Hilary Joel Josam, Mpendulo Moyo, Mashal Shiri
Women’s Team: Hilder Kaye, Agness Kwash
Online Reporter
Peter Tanyanyiwa