Windhoek
There is a new kid on the block in Namibian boxing with the emergence of Salute Boxing Academy that was unveiled at a well-attended launching ceremony at the posh Nice Restaurant in Windhoek West yesterday.
Well-known local boxing personality Kriata Kamanya is the brains behind the new boxing school under the motto “Building Champions where Winning is the Goal” – designed to take both amateur and professional boxers under its wing.
The board consists of six members including a female Taleni Mutilifa, who in her welcoming remarks emphasized the ultimate goal of the academy.
“We are not in boxing for ourselves but are here to protect the interests of boxers. Our aim is to provide well-defined programs with regard to operations for talented boxers to realize their dream boxers.”
On his part Kamanya, who is the executive chairman of the academy, pulled no punches and bemoaned the lack of proper development structures in the country.
“There are no development structures in place and we have a lot of talented young boxers idling as a result of these shortcomings. These boxers need to be taken to the next level but to sustain those ideals we need committed people and this is where we tie in.”
Another board member and well known socialite Linus Indongo expressed the need for athletes – boxers in particular – to be nurtured through the areas of life skills and financial management.
“The arrival of Salute Boxing Academy was long overdue in bringing an end to the ongoing monopoly in the ranks of professional boxing in Namibia,” fired off veteran bantamweight professional boxer Smokey Ilonga.
Now in the twilight of his wobbling boxing career, the dreadlocked pugilist together with former Australian middleweight champion Tito Mwetupanga were unveiled as stable mates of Salute Boxing Academy.
Vice-president of the Namibia Boxing and Wrestling Control Board, Ellison Hijarunguru, informed the gathering that the academy has been endorsed as a fully-fledged member of the board.
“I want to make it categorically clear that there are currently no rules preventing would-be boxing promoters from applying for a licence, whether they have boxers or not, but the rules prohibit such a body from poaching boxers from their rivals.”
According to board members, plans are underway to stage the new academy’s maiden competition at a yet to be announced fixture and venue.