By Tovin Ngombe:-
Southern Province Amateur Boxing Association (SPABA) has called on Zambia Amateur Boxing Federation (ZABF) to reselect boxers scheduled to travel to Algeria because the team was biased and unfairly picked.
SPABA Secretary Blackie Mantele told ZANIS that only boxers from Midland and Copperbelt which represents two provinces only were chosen.
He said his executive was dismayed at the manner used in selecting the boxer as they failed to choose any one from the Southern province.
Mantele said Maamba Boxing Amateur Association and Nakambala managed to complete the season and they were committed to intense preparations they had and wondered why the mother body chose to ignore their contributions.
“SPABA has expressed concern at the selection of boxers to travel to Algerai on July 15th and only Midland and Copperbelt has been chosen while Southern province has been left out,†Mr. Mantele said
He said SPABA would not affiliate it self this season if the anomalies for biased selection of boxers by ZABF leads by the Interim Chairman Steve Simpemba would fail to rooted out the mess.
Mantele disclosed that his boxers have been doing fine in most tournaments that they has participated and questioned criteria used to choose people that were even battered by his boxers.
He said Southern Province has good, talented and up coming boxers such as Mombela Mukuni, Casias Chiyanika, Alex Ng’andu, Douglas Mbewe who were all of national material and have been participating in international games.
The Secrtary beamoned that his sponsors were committed to sponsoring them but the disappointment and the biased selection in the ZABF would make them fail to continue sponsoring the sport.
“Mombela mukuni one our boxer has beaten Gideon Kabaso on two occasions but he has been left out while Kabaso has been picked.
He alleged that most of the boxers chosen were from Green Baffalos because the national coach boxer comes from the same club.
“ This is disappointing some of these boxers are too old, they can not bring medals, they have participated in a lot of national tournaments but they have come home with nothing, there is a lot of corruption if this fails to end we are not going to have any medals.
Mantele said in the next month’s elections for ZABF, Southern Province would only vote for people who have the interest of the sport at heart and those would also consider Southern Province.
