KATIMA MULILO – The chairperson of the Zambezi Boxing Federation, Lister Sabuta, is calling on the business community and volunteers in the vast Zambezi region to assist local boxers by availing facilities for aspiring young boxers to realise their dream.
The no-nonsense goatee-bearded bulky boxing official, says the Zambezi region has the desired potential with highly gifted young boxers but progress is hampered by the lack of training facilities.
“To be quite honest, we are blessed in terms of the required boxing equipment that we have received from the relevant authorities but the stumbling block is lack of space and training facilities here in Katima Mulilo. The only available place is the Ngweze Community Hall but the Town Council is charging us N$500.00 per month and we don’t have that kind of money,” charges a furious Sabuta.The town of Katima is home to various boxing clubs comprising of Sikosinyana Secondary School, Sanjo Lusese Secondary, Mayuni Secondary School, Sangwali Senior Secondary School and Simataa Secondary School, all from Central Katima.
“It should be understood that most of our boxers are scholars and can only train after hours when the sun has set meaning the boxers will require transport to take them home after training sessions and we just don’t have the financial means to sustain such a practice because of lack of insufficient funds”.
Sabuta reveals that the region has already produced good boxers in recent times with one of them, Nkando Hassel Matengu, to represent Namibia at the forthcoming Southern Africa Under-20 Boxing Championship in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in December this year. The youngster carved his qualification at the national trials in Walvis-Bay, earlier this year.
“We have lots of young and very skillful boxers as can be attested by their good showing demonstrated during the national championship in Rundu and Walvis-Bay, that saw our region claim a decent number of medals in the various weight categories,” he concludes.
By Carlos Kambaekwa
Caption: Lister Sabuta jpg – Chairman of the Zambezi Boxing Federation, Lister Sabuta,