By Confidence Musariri
Windhoek
Twenty-four-year old Namibian featherweight boxer Paulus Kapia, who ran amok at the Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre last Saturday, has apologised for his behaviour but refused to take the blame for causing the hubbub.
Speaking to New Era yesterday afternoon, Kapia’s trainer and manager Andreas “Duran”, Mwajanale refused to shoulder the blame and instead pointed at the Namibia Boxing Control Board officials for being corrupt.
“We do not condone the violence and behaviour of our boxer. And we sincerely apologise for all the mess caused, but we also want to point out that the event organisers were the cause of trouble. It was those corrupt officials who handed over the fight to the wrong person. Even a small child would have protested,” said Mwajanale. The fighter hails from Swakopmund.
Mwajanale owns the Tiger Cage Boxing Production where Kapia hails from and blasted acting boxing board chairman Kelly Nghixulifwa, fight commissioner Ellison Hiarunguru and Ambrosias Kandji for conniving towards the downfall of his boxer on the said night.
“Since when do match results take 10 minutes to be announced? Those officials took time to decide the result and it seemed the referee had no control whatsoever of what was being decided by the officials. We have heard that they want to keep a monopoly of Nestor Tobias’ boxers,” he argued.
Tobias, who owns the Sunshine Fitness and Boxing Academy was said to be in South Africa and could not be contacted for comment. However, he was also in Swakopmund when his boxer Siegfried Kaperu pummelled Kapia, in what officials said was a close call.
Mwajanale said his boxer’s behaviour was condemnable but investigations should also be opened on the match fixing issue, “because that is what led to the chaos. The fans were angry”.
He refused to label his boxer an undisciplined sportsman but rather took a swipe at the boxing control, saying it has become political. Mwajanale has since been served with a letter of a disciplinary hearing by the Boxing Control but still argued that he has been found guilty by the boxing control board even before the trial.
“I have a letter which says I am guilty of orchestrating violence. It seems I have already been judged.”
Nghixulifwa yesterday confirmed serving a letter to Mwajanale and his boxer but said the hearing is only set for Thursday, upon which the Boxing Control Board will sit on the hearing.
Asked if Kapia is ready for a rematch, Mwajanale said they had already lost out thousands of dollars through preparations and his sponsors were now dumping him because he lost the fight and because of the boxer’s behaviour.
“We were never interested in the money. We wanted the title. And for once, we were ready to call for a rematch but it seems things have gone out of hand. All the equipment and sponsorship we had been promised is no more.
We were robbed and we no longer have the capacity to regain our strength,” he said.
The Tiger Cage Boxing Production (TCBP) has also slapped Kapia with a stiffer punishment. The stable will not to pay for his accommodation nor provide him with groceries and pocket money.
“He lost his cool but he did not lose his match. And for losing his control, we decided to punish him that way because the stable has lost out on a lot of potential deals.”
TCBP has six professional boxers and several amateur boxers, with Joseph Kailonga, already a member of the national Olympic team.
“He is a disciplined guy. Yes we admit his unruly behaviour at the governor and the minister, but we do not admit as having caused the chaos.
“I have already contacted NBC and they have admitted that they will show the fight either tomorrow (Wednesday) or Saturday and from there, the nation can judge if that was not corruption at its best,” Duran continued.