Boxing coach urges hard work

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Jeffrey Horn of Australia (L) in action with Gilbert Choombe of Zambia during their Men's Light Welter (64kg) Boxing bout
Jeffrey Horn of Australia (L) in action with Gilbert Choombe of Zambia during their Men's Light Welter (64kg) Boxing bout

NATIONAL team boxing coach, Kennedy Kanyanta has said there is need for boxers to work hard for them to reap medals at international competitions.
Kanyanta said yesterday that he was impressed with performance of the boxers during the weekend national trials organised by the Zambia Amateur Boxing Federation (ZABF) held at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka.
He, however, said there was need for the coaches at national and under 20 level to seriously work on transforming the boxers from been mere participants to medals contenders.
“The tournament was highly contested and it gave us the technical bench a tough decision to pick the team.
“But we have to make sure we fine tune these boxers for them being mere participants to serious contenders to win medals at international events.
In as much as we have the team in place, doors remain open for other boxers to prove themselves,” he said.
Kanyanta, a 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, said there was need for Zambia to come up with a strong team of boxers that should be able to win Zambia medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July.
And Kanyanta showered praise on boxers Bwalya Lumbwe, who hails from his hometown of Mufulira, and Chester Simpungwe of Zambia National Service (ZNS), saying the duo were impressed in the manner they fought.
“It was my best bout of the tournament and I was equally elated with the skills of female boxers Juliana Kasonka of Red Arrows and also Musole from Ndola City Council.
“Overall, I was impressed but we need to work extra hard to win medals,” said the 2007 All African Games bronze winner.
Zambia will be sending boxers to compete at the Africa Youth Games in Botswana in May to be followed by the Commonwealth and Youth Olympic Games in July and September respectively.

 

Times of Zambia

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