adminNgoni Dapira in MUTARE
THE late long-serving boxing administrator and veteran coach Petros Masiyambumbi was honoured with a minute of silence at yesterday’s National Youth Games boxing matches.
Masiyambumbi, who was the Zimbabwe Boxing Association technical director, died from kidney failure in Bulawayo in May this year.
The veteran boxing coach had for more than a decade worked closely with the Sports Commission and the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.
He was very active in Team Zimbabwe’s boxing crew in competitions such as the African Games, Commonwealth Games and African Union Sports Council Youth Games.
National team coach Mphilisi Moyo said Masiyambumbi would be forever remembered.
“His contributions to some of the programmes we undertook with him like the National Youth Games remain immeasurable.
“Masiyambumbi groomed a lot of boxers when he worked with them as amateurs especially at the Zimbabwe National Army boxing club,” said Moyo.
Meanwhile the NYGs local organising committee boxing director Aaron Chinyamunzore said things were going smoothly with 92 boxers taking part.
There are seven weight categories, bantamweight (56kg), lightweight (60kg), light welterweight (64kg), welterweight (69kg), middleweight (75kg), light flyweight (46-49kg) and flyweight (52kg).
World Boxing Council international welterweight champion, Charles Manyuchi who is part of the invited celebrity guests, said he was impressed by the quality of boxing at junior level. I thank the Zimbabwe Boxing Association and all the people that are keeping the sport alive especially at junior level.
“The sport of boxing has so much potential in Zimbabwe if supported at grassroots level,” he said.
Online Reporter