By SANDRA MWILA –
LACK of funds has ‘Knocked Out’ Zambian pugilists from leaving for Morocco today for the International Boxing Federation (AIBA) organised Kings Cup tournament that starts this Sunday in Casablanca.
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Ben Muziyo (middleweight), Bwalya Lumbwe (light flyweight), Lawrence Mukuta (lightweight) and Mbachi Kaonga (welterweight) had been picked to represent Zambia at the competition.
Zambia Boxing Federation (ZBF) president Thomas Chileshe said in an interview yesterday that the trip was called off after failing to raise money needed to buy tickets for the four boxers.
“We have no option but to call off the boxers camping at the OYDC because we have failed to secure air tickets for them to travel,” Chileshe said.
Chileshe said the tournament was sponsored by AIBA, who only requested federations to secure air tickets for its boxers to travel adding that even efforts to request for sponsorship from the Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) failed.
“The boxers were suppose to travel tomorrow (today) but will be unable to do so because the Sports Council of Zambia has not gotten back to us despite giving us some assurances that they will assist,” Chileshe said.
Chileshe said he was disappointed that yet again the boxers have failed to represent the country at an international event due to financial constraints.
Meanwhile, national coach Kennedy Kanyanta said the King Cup would have acted as a good platform for the boxers to prepare for the All Africa Games to be held next year in Congo Brazzaville.
“We need to start serious preparations for the All Africa Games which acts as qualifications for the Olympics,” Kanyanta said.