Boxing championships at Opuwo next month KAINO NGHITONGOThe Namibia Boxing Federation (NBF) will host national boxing championships next month at Opuwo in the Kunene Region.
This was announced by the federation’s spokesman, Robert Haihambo, at a media briefing yesterday.
Haihambo said an estimated 300 to 500 boxers are expected to compete in the championships that will start on 23 November and end on 26 November.
He said in an effort to take boxing to areas where the sport is not practised, the NBF identified areas such as the Kunene Region, which will host this year’s games.
“We want to decentralise boxing and it is for that reason that we have decided to take these games to Opuwo,” he said.
After having hosted the first AIBA coaching course in May and holding national boxing trials, the federation is also hard hit by the financial crisis in sport.
The federation receives assistance from the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) and the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC), but according to Haihambo they need a sponsor for the upcoming championships.
“We cannot always rely on NSC and NNOC, so we are now speaking to the corporates to come on board and assist us,” he said.
He added that the federation had a comprehensive plan that it was presenting to potential sponsors.
The tournament will be preceded by a course for about 25 judges and referees on 21 and 22 November.
The seven boxers who will be representing Namibia at the Region Five games in Angola in December will take part in the games.
According to Haihambo the boxers need exposure before they leave for Angola.
Female boxers will also climb through the ropes at the championships.