Zebaldt Ngaruka
Amateur boxers from the Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions’ club challenged one another at the Otjinene Boxing tournament, held on Friday at Otjinene Sports ground.
The event, endorsed by the Otjinene Sport office, saw 32 boxers from Gobabis, Grootfontein, Okakarara and Otjinene Boxing clubs exchanging leather in various weight divisions. Fonso Tjatindi, the assistant sports officer at the settlement, said the competition is primarily aimed at reviving boxing at the grassroots level.
He added that they sent invitations to many boxing clubs, but only a few turned up.
«We hoped for many, but others cited financial constraints as the prime reason for not turning up for the event,» said Tjatindi.
He added that the platform is where boxers gained opportunities to be selected for regional games and beyond.
In the first fight of the evening, Chris Boxing and Fitness Academy (CBFA)'s Kamati Kamati defeated Natangwe Haukongo from Real Camouflage Boxing Academy
(RCBA) in the junior category, while in 54 kilogrammes (kg) weight of the youth category, Motjari Kandanga from the Otjinene Boxing Club (OBC) lost to Gobabis Boxing Club (GBC)'s Kambo Petrus.
Titus Mutewa from Grootfontein’s RCBA overcame his GBA opponent Martison Shikongo in the 46 kg division.
About seven fights also took place at the senior level.
OBC’s Rijamekee Tjombe used home-ground advantage after defeating Raphael Tjizezenga from OKBC in the 54kg weight category.
David Noujoma from GBA outshone Malakia Haimbondi in a 60kg fight, whereas Setson Iimbala from CBFA crushed GBA’s Ipuleni Titus in a 63 kg division.
Also, Mwatufa Imanuel from GBA beat OBC’s New Boy Hengari 71 kg division in one of the senior category fights of the evening.
In terms of ranking, the RCBFA club emerged as victors with four gold medals, followed by GBA with three gold medals, while OBC and CBFA, came in third and fourth positions with three and two gold medals.
Iimbala from RCBA walked away with the Boxer of the Series award, while his club also took home the best club trophy accolade. The Best-Disciplined Club award went to GBC.