President Levy Mwanawasa has congratulated Zambian female boxer, Esther Phiri for winning the Global Boxing Union (GBU) super featherweight title on Saturday.
Dr. Mwanawasa told Phiri that her continued successes in the boxing sphere were a source of national pride and an inspiration to upcoming sports men and women.
Phiri won the Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF) super featherweight title after defeating German’s Elina Tissen on a unanimous point judgment.
Dr. Mwanawasa said in personal letter to Phiri that her victory had made Zambia proud of a world champion.
This is contained in a statement issued by Special assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, John Musukuma to ZANIS this evening.
“You have become an international boxing ambassador by putting the sports back into the limelight in Zambia and the world at large,” Dr. Mwanawasa said, adding “I wish to congratulate you for your well deserved victory in the Global boxing Union World Super Featherweight title fight”.
He said Phiri’s love for and commitment to boxing had cheered many Zambians, who he said would remain indebted to her for the pride she had earned the country.
“The government will continue to promote the sport of boxing and other sports disciplines. We look forward to your continued success,” Dr. Mwanawasa said.
Phiri also holds the Global Boxing Union (GBU) and the WIBF intercontinental super featherweight belts.
Meanwhile, Government has taken a swipe at what it calls irresponsible journalism over the media coverage of Esther Phiri’s Women International Boxing Federation (WIBF) superfeatherweight bout with Elina Tissen of Germany.
ZANIS sports reports Sports, Youth and Child development minister Gabriel Namulambe saying he is dissapointed with the recent media reports on the Esther Phiri’s performance against the German boxer on Saturday.
” I am quiet dissapointed with the media reports on Esther. I would not take kindly to negative reporting on Esther, ” Mr Namulambe said.
Speaking during a cocktail hosted for the two women boxers courtesy of Holiday Inn Hotel on Sunday evening, the minister urged the media to be responsible when reporting.
He said he is not a fan of the press which he advised not to be like Lucifer (Satan) by avoiding negative reporting of important national events such as Esther’s boxing match.
He advised the author of one named daily newspaper to withdraw the story about Esther Phiri and apologise to the nation instead.
” I am not a fan of the press.I am urging journalists not to be like lucifer to report negatively even when there is positive development in the country.
I there fore urge the author of the story to withdraw the story and apologise to the nation, ” he said.
Esther is reported in one of the dailies on Sunday that she should consider hanging up her gloves for good due to her below standard performance with Tissen.
The paper reported that Esther’s pace, power and technique with which she announced her entery in international women’s boxing ring in 2008 had completly fizzled out.
The minister asdvised sponsors to consider exposing Esther internationally by enabling her to train abroad.
And National Milling Managing Director Peter Cottan said Esther Phiri won convingly on Saturday.
Cottan said from his understanding of boxing, an opponate has to beat the champion convingly to grab the title which Esther’s previous opponates failed to do.
He said Elina aged 21 fought well on Saturday but lost the fight to put her record at eight fights, six wins three by technical knockouts and two loses.
Cottan said trainers of both boxers, referees and administrators were convinced that Esther won convingly on Saturday.
And Barclays Bank Managing Director Zafar Masud pledged his bank’s commitment to supporting sports in the country.
Masud said Barclays Bank would not only support boxing but other sports activities.
He congratulated Esther for winning Saturday’s fight to become WIBF super featherweight champion.
Is Esther the only remaining boxer worth any repute in Zambia? I know we send boxers to sports events like olympics and commonwealth games, but are any of these, male or female in any competitive frame? But LPM is spot on, Ester is the only going deal for Zambian sports at the moment and she seems to be equal to the task going by her present ranking although she has no shortage of doubting Thomases
Thanks dear president
Congratulations!!!
Well done, LPM.
well done Esther follow the steps of lottie mwale.keep up the spirit
The Press could be right by pointing at mistakes of Esther. Let her work on those weaknesses and get back the tenacity… She will be smiling all the way to the bank . She should not listen to chaps like Namulambe who seem to be cadres even at sports level.
Esther, take criticisms positively and work on those weakness, then you are assured of punks ministers always praising you.. You lose concentration, become a Mubbabe, and get knocked out..Namulambe will be first to point fingers at you and your handlers…Listen to wise advise, it may not be in your favour..but will make you improve and work harder.
We would to position ourselves as a country of champions!!! We would like to inspire success be it in arts, sports and business in the young generation. We would like to breed a country of winners!!! Because we are a great people!!!
Congratulations Esther Phiri!!! You have contrbuted to inspiring your young brothers and sisters to success!!! Yes we can win, because though we are born humble we are winners!!!
Long live mother Zambia!!!
Congrates Esther you have doneitagain.Check your weakness and improve .Wish you the best and enjoy yourself
Esther you are a good fighter keep it up,but you still have some weaknesses,and you need to work on them before its too late otherwise you are strong enough to work on your techniques.
Brave mother zambia.
Ba Namulambe naimwe bushe is it wrong for the media to point out the weaknesses in Esther? Esther is a good fighter but as she progreses, she has shown less and less punching power and she needs to be reminded of that so she can work on it and continue bringing more glory to mother zambia.
We do not want her to fizzle out in no time. Ba Namulambe you are a minister and you statements must reflect leadership. Muletusebanya
What kind of minissters do we have in zambia?Hasnt he heard of constructive criticism?The reference to lucifer was absolutely innapropriate.Let the journalists do their job and dont be so petty “ba minister”.
I join #6 and 10 in denouncing Namulambe for his attack on the media. The paper is infact helping the young lady. As others have said Ester don’t buy Namulambe’s sentiments, he will be the 1st one to condemn you at the time you need support. Congrats, but shame ba minister who are used to blind following.
When Esther fights in USA, she will be clobbered like Ba ba late Lottie. Why does she fight only on Zambian soil
Is there any way she can fight out of her confort zone? Just wondering. My suggestion is to have her fight some builder up fights in other countries and see how she handles the fights. She is the champion and who ever wants to fight her has to go with what her promoters feel it’s good for the fighter and them ( Promoters) Boxing is a little tricky