Sizinda to stage national boxing tourney

Nhlanhla Mbele 

ZIMBABWE Boxing Federation will hold a national boxing tournament in Bulawayo at Sizinda South beer garden on 28 March.

All the country’s 10 provinces are expected to take part with about 150 pugilists comprising men and women from all age groups anticipated in the tournament.

Zimbabwe Boxing Federation technical director Steven Masiyambumbi said they were also expecting the Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls Academy and Great Zimbabwe to come on board.

“This is our first national tournament as a federation and we are calling upon all boxers countrywide to come and showcase their talent. The pugilists will compete in all weight categories that are from flyweight, light flyweight up to the super heavyweight,” said Masiyambumbi.

Masiyambumbi said the tournament was important since they were preparing for the zonal championships in Angola next month. 

In two weeks, ZBF will also have friendly tournaments against Mozambique ahead of the zonal championships.

Last month, ZBF sent three boxers Ndabezinhle Phiri, Brendon Dene and Freeman Mabvongwe to Olympic qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.

The boxers were punched out of the qualifiers and Phiri lost 0-5 to Ghanaian Sulemanu Tetteh in the flyweight division.

Dene lost 1-4 to Fiston Mbaya of DR Congo in the lightweight category, while Mabvongwe lost 0-5 to Mokhachane Moshoeshoe of Lesotho.

“Yes, we did not make it in Senegal in the Olympic qualifiers but that is not the end of the road. We encouraged those who had gone to Senegal to also participate in the tournament so that we can weigh our options in terms of coming up with a squad that will represent Zimbabwe. 

Masiyambumbi said they were going to have an Annual General Meeting on the same day and urged all provinces to attend.

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