Ali vows to down Malinga

NAMIBIAN welterweight boxer Ali ‘The Silent Assassin’ Nuumbembe promised his fans that he will win the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Africa title for them when he steps into the ring against South Africa’s Samuel Malinga in Windhoek on Saturday.

The soft-spoken Nuumbembe said he has no intentions of losing to anyone at this point and that he has prepared for months for this fight.’To the public out there. I want you to know that I will win this fight. I have prepared very well and I am ready to give it my best shot. I am not going to let you down,’ said the former Commonwealth champion.Nuumbembe, who is a captain in the Namibia Defence Force, has a terrific record of 22 wins from a total of 27 fights and only four losses, while he drew once.Malinga similarly has an explosive record of 21 wins from his 28 fights, but has fallen five times, while he has been held to a draw twice.Nuumbembe said that he has waited for too long to be given a chance to fight for a place in the world rankings.He will be ranked in the WBO ranking in the world if he becomes the African welterweight champ and it will also give him a good chance to challenge for the world title in future.’I cannot wait to get my name in the rankings and possibly get a shot at a world title in the near future, he said.ILL DISCIPLINEAt yesterday’s press briefing where Nuumbembe spoke, Deputy Minister of Sport Pohamba Shifeta said it was important that sportsmen and women maintain a high level of discipline.Pohamba said he had received numerous reports about Namibian sportsmen and women who behaved inappropriately in public places, especially after consuming alcohol.’I am worried about this trend and as sports people I don’t think it is good for your health to abuse alcohol and to fight in public. I suggest that the Namibian boxing officials put in place measures in which they can even suspend their boxers who are found guilty of misconduct or seen drinking and fighting in public places,’ said Shifeta.He did not refer to any boxer, but said the incidents were widespread and were common among sportsmen and women in many sport codes in the country.He said alcohol abuse accelerates the deterioration of the body and does not serve the athletes well in terms of performance. He also suggested that sport federations should come up with educational programmes for their athletes about life skills and to maintain healthy minds and bodies as sports people. corry@namibian.com.na