adminMzingaye Sibanda Sports Reporter
ZAMBIAN boxers are expected to grace the Zimbabwe National Amateur Boxing Open Championships to be held at Manor Hotel in Bulawayo this afternoon. Zimbabwe Boxing Federation technical director Petros Masiyambumbi confirmed that they are expecting a Zambian boxing team to take part in the event which promises fireworks.
“We have been communicating with Zambia and chances are very high that they are coming. They would be bringing a full squad. In our last communication it was really promising. They said their sports commission is making extra efforts for them to source funds for the trip,” he said.
The competition was scheduled for Harare but shifted to Bulawayo at the 11th hour due to failure to secure a boxing ring in the capital.
“The event was supposed to be in Harare but because the ring was destroyed by the rains, we had to come to Bulawayo.
“For Bulawayo to take over this event, it’s good and an advantage. It gives us a chance to start preparing for the Region Five Games,” said Masiyambumbi.
All the country’s 10 provinces are expected to grace the event with youth and senior teams both male and females included in the bill.
“We are going to include youth and senior boxers from all 10 provinces and the ZNA will be there which makes it 11 provinces as they are regarded as a province in our boxing fraternity,” said Masiyambumbi who is also a member of ZNA.
He said they will use the competition to identify boxers to represent the country in the All Africa Games in May.
“We want to take the opportunity to come up with the list for the Zone Six games while the seniors are fighting for a chance to be in the team for the All Africa Games in South Africa in May.
“The All Africa Games will be here next year so we should also start preparing now so that’s why we are having this tournament,” he said.
This will be the second boxing event for the city this year after the Bulawayo Amateur Boxing Association held their local competition last month.
Masiyambumbi brothers Samson, Forster and Brighton, who represented Zimbabwe at the World Youth Championships in Poland last year, are set to be star attractions at the tournament.
Other top boxers from the city who are expected to shine are Mandla Madzivanyika, Casper Mnkandla, and Eugene Ndlovu.
Zimbabwe National Youth Games medallists Elizabeth Moyo, Amanda Dube, Thenjiwe Foloma, Brian Ndlovu, Mbongeni Masuku and Stephen Ndlovu could be the boxers to watch.
Matabeleland South will pin their hopes on Ndodana Moyo while Masvingo has Onias Ndlovu.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo