Maqonda Ndlovu
A group of fed-up boxers, boxing officials and fans are calling for the dissolution of the Namibia Amature Boxing Federation (Nabf) as a matter of emergency, saying the current board has destroyed the federation.
Speaking at a press conference, the group, which was represented by Karen Shikongo, said the current boxing board, led by Benjamin Rabang, has failed to meet its objective (that of developing the sport at the grassroots level), could not initiate developmental programmes and was conflicted, amongst other shortfalls.
“We hereby express our utmost disappointment with the Namibia Sports Commission and the Nabf on how you have handled our grievances. You have demonstrated your unwillingness and incapacity to resuscitate the amateur boxing federation. We hereby inform your offices of our collective decision to dissolve the current leadership of Nabf with immediate effect,” Shikongo said.
She said, ever since the meeting between the disgruntled group in February, which claims to be representing clubs and regional leadership from seven regions, none of the resolutions have been actioned. The group first raised their complaints two years ago when they said Nabf was failing amateur boxers, as evidenced by the lack of a competitive national team, lack of local trials and tournaments that are supposed to be used to identify talent, as well as the lack of accountability and transparency.
In February this year, the group met with the federation and the NSC to iron out their issues, and certain plans were put in motion with deadlines.
“When we met in February, the NSC gave the board 90 days to attend to our queries and fix them. To date, nothing significant has happened. The leadership of the federation is in shambles. You have displayed arrogance, lack of consultations, lack of capacity to resolve disputes, condoning unprocedural and unethical acts in boxing, and failure to raise the much-needed funds to host tournaments and develop amateur boxers,” she continued.
Shikongo further accused NSC chief administrator Freddy Mwiya of taking sides on the issue, saying he is remotely controlling the board. The concerned group stated that the lack of development of boxers at the amateur level will see Namibia fail to send any boxers to the All-Africa Games or the Paris 2024 Olympics. Responding to the allegations, president of the Nabf Benjamin Rabang, said he is aware of the “disgruntled group who are not part of any structure”.
“These guys never came to us; they went straight to the NSC, and they were told to follow the right procedures. The constitution says only members can pass a vote of no confidence, and they are not members. Instead of causing chaos, they should come to us and say, ‘How can we help you?’ They think we get money from NSC, and that we abuse it,” Rabang said.
He added that while he admits that not a lot is happening at the amateur level in boxing, the biggest challenge is the lack of availability of funds.
“We have tried to raise funds for tournaments, but we failed. We even gave the regions permission to look for funds and host their tournaments. We acknowledge our shortcomings, but let us be guided by the laws and the constitution,” he said.
Benjamin added that he was happy with what the clubs and regions are doing, despite the harsh financial conditions they currently face, adding that even professional clubs that have sponsorship are failing to show their hard work and results.
Benjamin called for calm, saying their term (him and the exco) will come to an end in November 2024, and people are free to vote for a new leadership.
The chief administrator of the Namibia Sports Commission rubbished the pronunciations by Shikongo and her group, saying the Sports Act does not allow the dissolution of a federation by anyone outside the structures. “We are currently busy with the Namibia National Olympic Commission, organising logistics for boxers to attend qualification tournaments early next year. There is no need for me to comment on this,” he said.