‘Fire, blood and tears’ in east

GOBABIS will be the ultimate venue for lovers of boxing this weekend, when top-class Namibian boxers will exchange blows in their quest to be chosen as the country’s ambassadors to international competitions.

THE Namibia Amateur Boxing Federation (NABF) will hold a development tournament aimed at identifying talented boxers, to represent the country at the XV Africa championships to be held in Botswana between March 15 and 22. The development tournament will be held at Gobabis on Saturday, and the first bout is scheduled for 20h00.NABF Secretary General Joe Kaperu announced yesterday that boxers selected during the Namibia senior championships last year (gold and silver winners) would go up against those who took part in the All Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria, in the same year.He said the tournament at Gobabis would be staged in 11 weight divisions – from 48 to 91 kilograms – under the rules of the International Amateur Boxing Association.Kaperu said the boxers selected to participate at the Africa championships, would still need to qualify for the Olympic Games later this year in the same events.The Gobabis competition will meanwhile preoccupy local boxers wishing to make their mark in a bid to qualify for the Botswana meeting.”There is no doubt that there will be a lot of fire, blood and tears at the Epako Hall,” said Kaperu.Kaperu invited all the boxing enthusiasts to come in numbers for the event.Some of Namibia’s top boxers will be in action, notably Joseph ‘Smokey Joe’ Hilongwa, who will be vying for a win in the 48kg category, while the biggest drawcard will be Paulus ‘The Champ’ Ambunda, who fights in the 54kg weight category.Ambunda is an All Africa Games silver medallist, and also collected a bronze at the Afro-Asian Games held in India last year.Other boxers expected to deliver the goods include prolific puncher Joshua ‘The Cobra’ Veikko, who fights in the 57kg weight category, while much is also expected from Sebulon “Cheetah’ Shimwafeni in the 54kg division.Others boxers include: Nicanor ‘Take No Prisoners’ Natangwe (60kg); Jason ‘Taks’ Naule (64kg); and Kephas ‘KK’ Amadhila (69kg).The development programme is co-ordinated by Ambros Kandjii through the Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture under the supervision of the NABF.The development tournament will be held at Gobabis on Saturday, and the first bout is scheduled for 20h00. NABF Secretary General Joe Kaperu announced yesterday that boxers selected during the Namibia senior championships last year (gold and silver winners) would go up against those who took part in the All Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria, in the same year. He said the tournament at Gobabis would be staged in 11 weight divisions – from 48 to 91 kilograms – under the rules of the International Amateur Boxing Association. Kaperu said the boxers selected to participate at the Africa championships, would still need to qualify for the Olympic Games later this year in the same events. The Gobabis competition will meanwhile preoccupy local boxers wishing to make their mark in a bid to qualify for the Botswana meeting. “There is no doubt that there will be a lot of fire, blood and tears at the Epako Hall,” said Kaperu. Kaperu invited all the boxing enthusiasts to come in numbers for the event. Some of Namibia’s top boxers will be in action, notably Joseph ‘Smokey Joe’ Hilongwa, who will be vying for a win in the 48kg category, while the biggest drawcard will be Paulus ‘The Champ’ Ambunda, who fights in the 54kg weight category. Ambunda is an All Africa Games silver medallist, and also collected a bronze at the Afro-Asian Games held in India last year. Other boxers expected to deliver the goods include prolific puncher Joshua ‘The Cobra’ Veikko, who fights in the 57kg weight category, while much is also expected from Sebulon “Cheetah’ Shimwafeni in the 54kg division. Others boxers include: Nicanor ‘Take No Prisoners’ Natangwe (60kg); Jason ‘Taks’ Naule (64kg); and Kephas ‘KK’ Amadhila (69kg). The development programme is co-ordinated by Ambros Kandjii through the Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture under the supervision of the NABF.