Kilimanjaro Boxing Club founder and promoter Joseph Bernhard said his decision to hold a boxing tournament in Oshikuku this coming weekend is about giving overlooked communities a fair chance to participate in the sport.

The former Olympian explained that he and his stable has enjoyed good support in the Oshana region and the surrounding areas, where many people attend his events whenever he hosts them. He feels smaller towns such as Oshikuku and Outapi have been left behind in terms of the development of the sport in the area. 

“I think it is time we accord these smaller towns a fair opportunity to be able to compete in such events. The areas have been dormant for way too long, and taking the sport out there will revive the game in the areas and those surrounding them,” he said. 

The amateur stable in the country will stage the event next week, and according to the promoter, it is not just about hosting another fight night, but about sparking a broader movement of community involvement. 

Bernhard believes that giving smaller towns a platform can lead to the establishment of new boxing clubs, which in turn could open pathways for local youths to pursue the sport more seriously.

“From tournaments like these, you can easily see new clubs being formed, and we might discover talented boxers who can go on to represent their regions and even the country. The national championships are a stage where talent from every corner of Namibia should be showcased. But for that to happen, we need to go into the regions, host events, and give boxers from these towns a chance to be seen and scouted,” he added.

He also highlighted that boxing has always been more than just a sport for Namibians, serving as an outlet for discipline, resilience, and community pride. 

He mentioned bringing the sport to smaller towns can give young people a sense of purpose and inspire the next generation of champions.

-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na