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Sisa Sihwa, Sports Reporter
PREPARATIONS for the Zone 4 boxing games to be held in Mozambique this year have gathered pace in the capital with the pugilists from affiliated clubs already have reported for camp.
The regional tournament which is scheduled to begin on 20 to 26 February in Maputo will feature 12 Southern African countries including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana Namibia, South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Swaziland Angola and the hosts Mozambique.
Last year, the Zone 4 games were held in Angola. Both women and men will be competing in the Middle weight, Light weight and Bantam weight, among other boxing categories.
Steven Masiyambumbi, the ZBF technical director said boxers have begun preparing for the Zone 4 games in Harare and others are set to join camp this week.
“The boxers are already in camp since they were preparing for the Indian Open boxing tournament which we failed to attend; So It’s a good opportunity for us to fully prepare for the Zone 4 games which is a major tournament.
“The trip to India would have given great exposure to the boxers in gearing up for the Zone 4 games but this will give us ample time to get ready for the regional tourney. Other boxers from affiliated clubs, including Bulawayo are set to join camp this week,” he said.
Masiyambumbi said the preparations are going on very well and other national coaches will soon be reporting for camp.
“I am told the training for the games is going as planned, the boxers are under the guidance Ali Phiri and the other national coaches are set to join camp soon,” he added.
Bulawayo will be represented by Caroline Dube, who is a Middle weight Champion, the Light weight Champion Zibusiso Nyoni currently based in South Africa and the Bantam weight Champion Wiseman Tshuma.
Dube and Tshuma managed to bring home each a gold medal from the previous tournament in Angola, while Nyoni picked up a bronze medal from the regional games last year. @J_sihwa
Online Reporter