The Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT) has named 16 strong national team members, ready to represent the country in the International scene in near future, that include the African Boxing Championship slated for Mauritius in June.
The Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT) Secretary General, Makore Mashaga
The federation Secretary-General, Makore Mashaga said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the selected team will be under national head coach Remy Ngabo. Mashaga said that the team of 16 boxers together with nine coaches will start its off-camp at the National Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam on May 7 ready for the big championships.
He named the boxers and their respective weight category as +91kg- Maximilian Patrick (JKT), 91kg- Haruna Swaga (Ngome), 75kg- Ibrahim Tamba (Ngome), 69kg- Selemani Kidunda (Ngome), Abdu Rashid and Gurashidi Rashidi (all from JKT). Others are 64kg-Hashim Simon (Ngome), Victor Njaiti (JKT), 60kg- Ismail Italiano (JKT), Iddi Pialali (Sifa) , 56kg- Elias Damson, Twalib Athuman (all JKT), 52kg- Hamdani Issa (JKT), Hamadi Furahisha (Davies Corner).
The list also has Saif Hofu and Christian John who will battle for 49kg all from JKT. Mashaga revealed nine appointed technical bench members who will work under head coach Ngabo as Juma Selemani, Said ‘Gogo Poa’ Omary, Hassan Mzonge and Yomba Yomba David (Ngome), Benjamin Mwangata (JKT), Edward Lyakwipa (Sifa), Akaroli Godfrey (Urafiki), Musa Malisori (Prisons) and Mohamed Shabani (Police).
“Our main focus is to prepare the competitive team which will bring home medals from African Zone Three in Cameroon, African Boxing Championship in Mauritius and also get ready for the Commonwealth Games set for Glasgow, Scotland in 2014,” he said.
Mashaga added that the team and coaches selection was made on merit, saying the majority were selected based on their perfomance during the National Club Championship held from January 29th to February 2nd 2013. He appealed to corporate, individuals and the government to come forward and support the team’s preparation so as to fulfil their wishes to excel at international arena.
“On behalf of BFT, I want to thank all boxers and selected technical bench for their personal efforts that made it possible for them to be picked in the team. Many are still very young and it is their first time in the team.”
By MBONILE BURTON, Tanzania Daily News