The ManicaPost
Blessing Rwizi Sports Correspondent
BUSINESS last Saturday came to a halt at Nyanyadzi Business Centre as scores of people thronged the centre to watch amateur boxers treading leather in the Zimbabwe Boxing Federation Open Tournament.
This was ZBF’s first event in their 2017 calendar. A series of other tournaments will follow as the organisation prepare for the forthcoming Zone 4 Games to be held in Angola from April 25 to 30.
ZBF organised the event in conjunction with the Zimbabwe National Army which dominated most of the categories in more than 20 bouts fought on the day.
The tournament drew both male and female amateur boxers from six of the country’s provinces including the hosts, Manicaland.
It also came in handy for the ZBF to assess and check on the fitness levels of boxers going to Zambia for an invitational tournament to be hosted by the neighbouring country’s boxing federation in Lusaka this weekend. However, ZNA boxers won in seven contests out of the 10 in which they were paired against opponents from other provinces.
ZNA’s Lynott Jeyacheya from Manicaland Province lost to Thulani Mupundu in the light-heavy weight category, while another ZNA boxer, Beven Nyamhondera won against Ashly Makweya from Manicaland in the light welter weight. Other ZNA boxers who won are Chenjerai Makanyire, Emmanuel Chisiya, Netsai Bondai, Evance Usaviwevhu, Arthur Million and Felix Masinire in bantam, light and welter weight categories respectively.
The remaining bouts out of the 22 contested were shared among the rest of the provinces that took part in the tournament
ZBF vice-president, Isaac Goora, said: “The tournament was a major success as it was an eye opener for budding boxers in Manicaland. All went well as people in Nyanyadzi were treated to some good boxing and this will go a long way in motivating the young to take boxing seriously. The tournament was also key to ZBF boxers as they prepare for the forthcoming SADC Zone 4 Games scheduled for Angola in April this year. The tournament also helped in assessing some of the ZBF boxers invited by Zambian Boxing Federation to a tournament to be held in Lusaka this weekend. On March 25, all boxing provinces will once again converge at Victoria Falls for the second ZBF Open Tournament that will be hosted by Matabeleland North,” he said.
