adminMidlands Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Boxing Federation (ZBF) has extended its begging bowl to well-wishers in a bid to raise about $10,000 to send 15 boxers to South Africa for the inaugural Nelson Mandela Invitational Boxing Tournament.
The money is for the team’s travel and accommodation expenses for the four-day tournament set to run from November 11-14 in Port Elizabeth.
The tournament is for upcoming boxers and ZBF settled for winners of the National Youth Games that were held in Mutare in August.
ZBF secretary-general Goodwill Sibanda said the tournament would give the budding boxers vital exposure ahead of the Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Games set for Angola in 2016.
“We are sending a team of 15 athletes between the ages of 17 and 18. This is the age group they require for this tournament and this is also the team we are preparing for the AUSC Games to be held in 2016. I believe the tournament will give the boxers the exposure they need at the games,” said Sibanda.
“Things are not well and we are stranded financially. We are therefore appealing to the corporate world and well-wishers to assist the federation to send the team to South Africa.”
Sibanda said the country was invited after their South African counterparts were impressed by local boxers during the AUSC Games held in Bulawayo last year.
Boxing joins a list of other sport tournaments such as football and golf, which are held named in honour of the late former South African President Nelson Mandela annually.
Zimbabwe team
Boys: Justice Nyoni (Light flyweight), Shepherd Ndlovu (Flyweight), Ndodana Ncube (Bantamweight), Dignity Ncube (Lightweight), Perkins Chinyoro (Light-welterweight), Freeman Mabvongwe (Welterweight), Farai Makumbe (Middleweight), Trymore Chiweshe (Light-heavyweight)
Girls: Priscillar Dondo (Flyweight), Monica Mkandla (lightweight), Mercy Maponga (Bantamweight), Syneirence Nkomozabo (Featherweight),
Kudzai Masuku (Welterweight), Bridget Ncube (Welterweight)
Online Reporter