dyton mupawaenda
Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
GOVERNMENT has thrown weight behind boxer Aliya Phiri ahead of his historic Africa Boxing Union welterweight showdown against Malawi’s Israel Kumambwa in Harare next month.
This is the first time for the country to host an ABU title fight.
That the winner of the duel earns the stars that enable them to challenge for a World Boxing Council belt, makes the December 8 event an all important one for Zimbabwe.
And yesterday the Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Emily Jesaya took time to visit Phiri at his training session in Borrowdale.
Also present was staff from the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board.
Jesaya said the Government was fully behind Phiri before, during and after the ABU fight.
“What we are doing as Government is to formulate strategies which will create an enabling environment for sport to flourish as a business.
“We know the potential that boxing has as a sport. As a country we are hosting a very big boxing event that is the African Boxing Union fight between our own Aliya Phiri and Malawi’s Israel Kamwamba on December 8.
“We are very confident that Phiri will deliver the belt for us,” said Jesaya.
“As a ministry, we have decided to come here and see Aliya training just to get an appreciation of how his regime is like. To get to know him in terms of his personality and passion.
“As Government, we are very happy to have met him and discussed so many things that we discussed.
“He has promised to deliver gold for us and we have reassured him of our maximum support as well.
“Sport is business and we are modelling it like that. We are calling upon Zimbabweans to come together on December 8 and support our boxer”.
Phiri promised a victory for the country.
“I am very humbled to see the Government taking their time to come and see how my preparations are going.
“With this gesture, I cannot afford to disappoint the nation. I will throw everything into the fight and make sure that I win the duel,” said Phiri.
“I am aiming to be the world champion so winning this ABU title will pave the way for me and the country.
“I know I will be carrying the hopes of millions of Zimbabweans and on home soil, losing is never an option.
“I would like to thank my backroom staff including my brother Ali “Otto” Phiri and my father who are running around to make sure that I am in the best possible shape”.
ZNBWCB acting chief executive officer Priscilla Kadungure hailed the Government for the support.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter