Money worries threaten Warriors Promotions’ plans

By: SHEEFENI NIKODEMUS

WARRIORS Promotions plan to stage a boxing event at the Khomasdal Community Hall on November 17 but they have no sponsor.

According to promoter Joseph ‘Smokey’ Hilongwa, the event must take place for the sake of the boxers, who need to stay active in order to boost their records.
“The tickets will be the major factor for the guys to be paid,” Hilongwa said. “These guys don’t get an opportunity from other promoters so we have to help them.”
The WBA Pan-African flyweight title holder added that he too would like to be part of the card but that the shortage of funds was a major stumbling block.
“I have been out of action for a long time and need to defend my title. At the moment there are no finances to put up a title fight. But if we can get a sponsorship, then I can fight.”
Earlier this month, MTC said it would plough N$7,5 million over three years into boxing. However the endorsement – which is both material and financial – is exclusive to the Nestor Sunshine Boxing Academy.
This leaves Warriors Promotions’ chairman Ludwig Haimbodi and other rival stables to look on enviously.
“We must still run around until we have funds,” said Haimbodi. “What MTC has done is a positive thing for boxing although we are not part of the deal. We now ask the public and other corporate companies to help us in any way they can. Once we have more sponsors, we can create better competition in boxing.”
Nestor Tobias, who earlier claimed the MTC sponsorship would benefit the entire domestic boxing fraternity, said housing 90 percent of the country’s top professional boxers had earned his academy the sponsorship.
“We sold our academy to MTC and they decided to come on board. Some promotions don’t have a quality product. Everybody is joining boxing because of the Sunshine Academy. Every promoter needs to look for a sponsor,” Tobias said.
Tickets to the event go on sale next week Monday and cost N$50 per person for regular seats.
Also tables seating ten people are available for N$10 000 and includes dinner and refreshments.
The November 17 card is as follows: Main bout – Tommy ‘Show’ Nakashimba versus Nkuleko Vengenayi (Zimbabwe) in an international featherweight ten-rounder; Undercard – Iipinge Irvil Kaunampito versus Sacky K Haufiku in a super-bantamweight four-rounder. The opponents for featherweight Lazarus Namalambo, middleweight Alfeus Shilongo and welterweights Steven Tjimbonde and Lukas Ndafoluma have not yet been confirmed.

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