Zaba accused of dumping local boxers

May 6.
The national association have indicated that they are expecting to send four boxers based in the United Kingdom for the qualifiers.
But some local fighters felt the move is not fair because they have never participated in any national event.
Female boxer Fortunate Chidzivo said she had prepared for the qualifiers after she was told last year that she will represent the country in Morocco after winning the bantamweight category of the Champion of Champions tournament held last year.
Chidzivo said she is contemplating turning into a professional boxer because of the latest developments.
“I am now ready to turn professional because of the corruption in amateur boxing.
“I have been competing in amateur boxing and I haven’t lost a match so far. Last year I won the Champion of Champions held in December and was promised that I will go for the Olympic qualifiers. But now they are getting ‘ghost’ boxers from UK. They (Zaba) said they did not have the money and we told them that we had our own sponsors. Those boxers are coming straight from the park into the ring,” said Chidzivo.
Chidzivo’s coach, Mathew Makumire said there is need for the Sports and Recreation Commission to intervene.
“It is really disappointing for all of the girls so SRC should do their work and correct that amateur area. They should put some focus into amateur boxing because so many bad things are happening,” said Makumire.
Zaba chairman, Lovemore Malianga, said they will deal with the issue as the executive since it is an in-house problem. “It’s an in-house issue. We can sort it out and then go public. We will have a meeting very soon to finalise this aspect,” said Malianga.
Malianga said they are currently looking for funds to cater for the coach and team manager to accompany the team as the boxers in UK have said they can meet their travelling expenses.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s Takudzwa Kuchocha and Richard Muriri lost their fights held over the weekend in Blantyre, Malawi.