Zim Boxer Milanzi Stranded In Namibia As Promoter ...

Zim Boxer Milanzi Stranded In Namibia As Promoter Fails To Pay Purse Money

Bridget Mabanda

Professional super-bantamweight boxer Hassan “Starboy” Milanzi with the help of his sponsor, Kisasa Design and Build, has decided to fork out his personal savings for a return ticket home from Namibia after being stuck there for close to two weeks.

Milanzi, who trains under the Otto Boxing Club, said boxers and coaches from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana who checked in for the “Together As One Part 8” boxing bonanza hosted at Windhoek’s Ramatex Hall on October 29 are yet to be paid their purses and are stuck at the Reo Guest House where they were booked.

Earlier, he posted on his Facebook account saying that the organiser of the event has been making countless excuses over payments.

“On a sad note, all the foreign boxers that participated in this tournament organised by the Namibian promoter MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing & Fitness Academy are all stuck in Namibia after the promoter failed to pay us after the bout that was held on the 29th of October at Ramatex in Windhoek Namibia. What a very unprofessional way of doing business.

“Everyday he (Tobias) is being asked about the purse monies and he has been giving different excuses but this has now gone out of hand as it is too long keeping us here. We got families, we got jobs waiting for us in our home countries.

“There are boxers and their coaches from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa & Ghana who are checked in and stuck in Namibia,” he said.

Milanzi, whose record stands at 11 wins, two losses and one draw lost the fight he had travelled to Namibia for in a contest against WBO-Africa super-bantamweight champion Mateus Heita. he retired midway through the bout.

Milanzi said he tried to engage the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZNBWCB) for intervention, but it was taking too long as he had to return early for other commitments.

“I called the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZNBWCB) and I told them about it and they promised they would engage the Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board concerning the issue. Up to now nothing positive has materialised,” he said.

Contacted for comment, ZNBWCB Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Zimbudzana said they were awaiting a formal position from their Namibian counterparts.

“We are going to take action after getting a reply from the Namibian board. They must clarify by explaining what is happening concerning the payments because we heard that our people are stuck there,” he said.

He was not aware if Milanzi had already left Namibia as of yesterday since his phone was not reachable.