Newly elected chairman of the Khomas Boxing Federation (KBF), Joel Ngungu has unpacked his ambitions for the local amateur boxing body, saying his long-term plan is to produce more Olympians for the country.
Ngungu was elected as the new KBF chairman, replacing Jason Naule who resigned to join the board of the Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (NPBWCB).
Recently speaking to New Era Sport on his election and his plans for the federation, Ngungu said that he was humbled by being elected new chairman and is ready to revive amateur boxing within the Khomas region. His long term objective is to get as many boxers from the region on the national team and in the process push to have them represent the country at major international competitions.
For Ngungu, the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and All Africa Games are some of the competitions he would like to see Namibian boxers partake more during his tenure.
“Khomas used to be the breeding ground of all the country’s best boxers but that has now changed. Therefore, with me, that’s where I want to start first and get a solution to that problem. Khomas has all the facilities that the country has to offer but we still fail to produce world-class amateur boxers, it just doesn’t make sense. If you look at Jonas Junias Jonas, he is from Erongo, while Tryagain Ndevelo comes from Oshikoto region. I want to at least get more than four boxers from Khomas into that set-up,” he said.
Khomas dominated last year’s MTC Namibia Youth Games held at Rietfontein, where they scooped a couple of medals, and according to Ngungu, that’s a good sign that they can fulfil that dream and he plans to build on that success.
– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na