Eight amateur boxers that were camping in Lusaka, Zambia, suffered contrasting fortunes as four lost with the other half winning during non-title boxing bonanza staged on Saturday.
The boxers were expected to arrive yesterday having underwent one-week training in Zambia ahead of next month’s 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifying championship set for Senegal.
Details of the list of boxers who won and lost were sketchy but in a brief interview Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) executive member, Daudi Shaibu, said it was a fruitful exercise.
“The boxers were training using top facilities. We were also training under the guidance of top trainers. It has been a fruitful camp,” he said.
Shaibu said they will recommend to Maba to enable the boxers to continue camping before travelling to Senegal.
“We shouldn’t break this camp. We need to polish some areas which we have been advised. Remember our colleagues [Zambia] have also been outstanding and they have been helpful,” he said.
Maba President, Pyson Likagwa, said it was important for the boxers to keep on training in readiness of the qualifying championship.
“They have been training for a while so we will not object recommendations from the trainers. Our wish is to qualify for the Olympics. So the team needs to rectify their mistakes before travelling to Zambia. They can achieve that only if they are still in camp. We have good boxers who can help us shine on the big stage,” he said.
Likagwa said Maba will not interfere with the selection criteria as only outstanding boxers will be picked.
“We are taking a squad of six boxers so the coaches will drop two who are not up to the expected standards. We want the coaches to pick boxers who stand a chance of earning qualification slot. As administrators we are working behind the scenes to realise our dream,” he said.
