adminZIMBABWE boxing was dealt a heavy blow after former pugilist Ezwell Ndlovu failed to take part in a referees and judges’ course in Gaborone, Botswana last week.
Ndlovu, the vice-chairman of the Bulawayo Amateur Boxing Association arrived in the neighbouring country only to find his name missing on the list of participants.
Had Ndlovu taken part in the course he would have had the opportunity to officiate at the Africa Youth Games in Botswana that start this Thursday.
The course was conducted by a Swiss instructor who was sent by the World Amateur Boxing Association headquarters in Switzerland.
Ndlovu, a former bronze medalist at the Commonwealth Games in 1994, said he was turned back despite meeting his own accommodation and transport expenses in excess of $250.
“All the money I had spent for the trip went up for nothing. If I had participated in the course, I would have been able to officiate at the upcoming Africa Youth Games and the Region Five games which we are hosting in December,” said Ndlovu, adding that the country had been robbed of an opportunity to have at least another eligible international judge and referee following the retirement of Dennis Mdara and Moses Makula.
Mdara and Makula officiated at the 2012 London Olympics and never returned home.
According to Ndlovu everything seemed suspicious because only 10 participants, all from Botswana, got the required information despite claims by the Botswana authorities that every participant were furnished with the required procedure.
“I was not the only one sent back; other members from the region were also not on the list. There was one Zambian, one from Swaziland and three South Africans who were turned back like me, meaning the Batswana had the course to themselves,” he said.
Ndlovu said a similar course would be held in Zambia on 22 June, but was doubtful of taking part as he had exhausted all his money on the Botswana trip. He appealed to the corporate world to assist him in that regard.
“The same instructor in Botswana will be in charge of another course in Zambia next month. This time around funds will be a problem for me because the association is in a quandary, I am appealing for donations from willing donors,” he said, adding that it was for the good of the nation to have someone qualified for international bouts.
“For the sake of our athletes it is of paramount importance to have a representative at every international event, so that we know if our boys lose on merit or are cheated,” said Ndlovu.
Online Reporter