Two local female amateur boxers, Mirjam Nghilongwa and Salmi Shapwata are in need of financial and material assistance to help realise their dreams of participating at next month’s Uprising African Queens Boxing Bonanza slated for Kampala, Uganda.
Nghilongwa (19), and Shapwata who is aged 21, are both trading leather under the MTC Salute Boxing Academy and count among the country’s few but rising amateur female boxers.
The all-women boxing tournament is set for 26 December in Kampala and will see the continent’s top female boxers battling it out for top honours and prestige.
For Nghilongwa and Shapwata to be counted amongst Africa’s best, they will need financial assistance to partake at the competition.
Speaking to this publication yesterday, their coach Samuel Kwedi pleaded with corporate Namibia and all good Samaritans to come on board and assist the two young boxers.
“We have accepted the invitation from the organisers, as this is a very important competition, but now our biggest stumbling block is funds to get us there [Uganda]. As of now, we do not have any money to travel to that country, as we were asked to fund our own accommodation, flight tickets and meals. So, we are calling on corporate companies and anyone to please come on board and sponsor this trip to help our two young boxers realise their dreams of one day turning professional,” pleaded Kwedi.
The coach explained that the trip to Uganda would roughly cost them N$80 000 to cater for the expenses of all three of them. The amount will cover their accommodation, air tickets, meals and conducting tests for Covid-19 before and upon arrival in that country.
Meanwhile, Shapwata said it has always been her dream to represent Namibia at major continental and global events such as the one of next month. She added that preparations have been going well and she is ready to make the country proud in Uganda.
“I am more than ready because it has been my dream to represent my country at this stage. My preparation is going good so far as my sparring partner and my coach have been putting in the work. So, we just hope and pray that we secure funds for our trip. It will be good if someone can really help us in that regard,” she said.
-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na