Zimpapers Logo

Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter 

THE Botswana national boxing team will no longer be part of a boxing tournament that is set for Palace Hotel in Bulawayo this Saturday citing a congested schedule as the reason for their pull out.

However, the tournament is proceeding as a national competition with Black Rhinos, HQ 1 Brigade, 5 Brigade, Bulawayo Metropolitan, Prisons and Correctional Services, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, Harare, Midlands, Victoria Falls Boxing Academy, Manyuchi Boxing Academy, Masvingo, Gwanda, Hwange, Beitbridge having all affirmed availability.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS)

Elite boxers from across the country are set to compete in both men and women categories in what promises to be a jam packed event. The tournament will also be part of preparations for the Region 5 games set for Malawi in December.

Zimbabwe Boxing Federation technical director Steven Masiyambumbi said they were now doing final touch ups to their preparations for the event.

“Initially, we had scheduled to face Botswana in this competition but they were in Mozambique just this weekend and for them to again be here this weekend was a bit of a challenge which is why they have pulled out,” said Masiyambumbi.

“However, we will now have the competition as a national competition. We believe our local boxers will do well. We need to expose them to such events because we are also looking at the Region five games.” 

Zimbabwe recently hosted the World Boxing Council (WBC) All-Africa Officials Training and Grading Workshop as part of efforts to up the standards of the sport in the country.

The meet drew delegates from 17 countries, South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Namibia, Cameroon, Egypt, Zambia, Zimbabwe, DRC, Ghana, Mali, USA, Morocco and Ireland. — @innocentskizoe