adminSisa Sihwa, Sport Reporter
ZIMBABWE Boxing Federation (ZBF) technical director Steven Masiyambumbi is scouting for boxing talent in the Matabeleland region.
A team of more than five boxers will be assembled from Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo to participate at an inter-provincial tourney to be held in South Africa next Month.
Speaking to Sunday Life Sport, Masiyambumbi said there is a lot of talent in Matabeleland which needs to be unearthed, nurtured and developed.
“We are looking to select a team from the three provinces of 15 boxers that will travel with us to Port Elizabeth on 28 April. We received an invitation from South Africa after performing well at the regional games recently held in Mozambique. We discovered that there is a lot of untapped talent especially in the Matabeleland region which needs exposure,” Masiyambumbi said.
He said he is appealing to the corporate world for financial assistance as the proceeds will assist in the logistics and transport fees of the team that will travelling to South Africa.
Meanwhile, the ZBF will be hosting its first general assembly this year in Gweru on Saturday to implement proper functional structures in provinces and to check if provinces are compliant with the national associations.
The meeting will also give all provinces an equal chance for bidding to host national championships and competitions.
Masiyambumbi appealed to clubs around the country to join the Sports and Recreation Commission SRC so that they are recognised entities.
“We need to work hand in hand with ZBF and stop blaming the Government at all times because our clubs are the ones letting down the SRC, as they are not registered with SRC. So we are appealing to the clubs in the country to affiliate with the SRC in order for the ZBF to recognise these affiliates at club, district and provincial level,” he said.
“Once many clubs are associated with the SRC, the ZBF will also be able to fund the boxing team and clubs whenever necessary,” he added. —@J_Sihwa
derick.khumalo