Harare Province Boxing Association crafts action p...

Harare Province Boxing Association crafts action plan to improve the sport

Boxing: Art form or silent killer? – DW – 09/09/2021

Bridget Mabanda

Harare Province Boxing Association Secretary, Kingston Jokonya, has said they have come up with an action plan for 2023 that will see them produce good boxers who are eligible to compete at both the regional and international stages.

He said performance by eight boxers who went to Malawi for the Region V Games in 2022 was very poor as only one boxer managed to complete three rounds.

Jokonya said the opportunity for them to fight was very much limited in 2022.

“We are aiming at having six tournaments, but as Harare province, we have been assured of three including the All-Africa Games preparations mid-year.

We need these tournaments as our boxers have been training, but without having games they lack exposure that is found through tournaments,” he said.

As efforts to improve boxing in Harare, Jokonya said they need to re-constitute so that they have proper and firm structures.

“We need to have more committees especially a technical and development committee responsible for selection of boxers.

“We also need to develop other boxing clubs within Harare province within the school system as many talents are discovered and nurtured in school,” he added.

The action plan includes the launching of school boxers committee beginning of next term and community talent identification parades which are commonly referred to as ‘wafa wafa.’

He said they are lobbying with local authorities for the latter to provide facilities either at subsidised rates or for free since they are expecting to have a training course in April 2023.

Jokonya highlighted some of challenges the Zimbabwe Boxing Association and boxers have been facing which are lack of equipment and affiliations which are at times not affordable.

Prior, Zimbabwe National Boxing Wrestling and Control Board (ZNBWCB) Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Zimbudzana indicated there is need to increase investment in the sector and equipment so that they have modern training gear in gyms and fitness centres.

He said training using standard equipment will improve and contribute to the quality performance of an athlete.

Zimbudzana said there is so much talent out there that is lacking exposure as there is a limited pool of athletes hence less medals and titles over the years.

He said there are same names from 2020, 2021 and 2023 but, their vision is to develop young talents so that there is replacement of those who are going for retirement because of age.