E920 000 EQUIPMENT FOR BOXING

MBABANE – It is an early Christmas present.

Local boxers have been spoiled with a E920 000 worth of equipment from the International Boxing Association (IBA). Boxers will take onto the ring on December 26 at Manzini Club, where they are expected to have a feel of an international standard six-by-six metres of the two boxing rings that were part of the equipment received by Eswatini Boxing Association (EBA). This equipment was unveiled by EBA at Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) new headquarters at Lobamba. Part of the equipment received included 100 head guards and gloves.

IBA Board of Directors Member Pearl Dlamini, said they were elated by this donation from the IBA President Umar Kremlev. Eswatini is the first African nation to receive the donation. Dlamini also said the equipment was double of what they had requested, as she disclosed that that they had just asked for a single ring. She stressed on the need of such equipment in the country to improve the sport. “The equipment must be made accessible to the athletes. I’m hoping the association will then decide on how some of the gloves and head guards will be donated to the clubs, but we wish that they benefit from the equipment so they use it while training because we know the reality back in the clubs,” Dlamini said.

Tournament

Meanwhile, EBA President Webster Lukhele, extended his token of appreciation to IBA president for the equipment, and said was the beginning of a new dawn in the country’s boxing.  Lukhele said that boxers would use the new equipment on Monday, during the Boxing Day tournament and further called upon the private sector to also support the sport. EOCGA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maxwell Jele congratulated EBA for receiving the equipment and urged them to utilise it for the best interest of the sport of boxing in the country. Jele also thanked Dlamini for her effort  in requesting and being granted the equipment. He said she was happy for the collaboration, saying she was a good ambassador of boxing and of sports in general. Noteworthy, is that it was not the first time the country benefited from IBA, as Eswatini top boxer, Thabiso Dlamini was away training in Russia, courtesy of the international boxing body’s president.

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