. Kanyanta

By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE  and SANDRA MWILA –
BOXERS’ quest for silverware at the 11th edition of the All Africa Games (AAG) in Congo Brazzaville has been delayed after the Local Organising Committee (LOC) encountered logistical challenges with regards to the venue.
According to the programme unveiled to all participating countries by the organising committee, boxing was supposed to kick start the Games yesterday ahead of the official opening ceremony slated for tomorrow.
However, as of yesterday, boxers were still in the dark on their opponents as the draws had not been conducted and worse still, ring officials and judges were not present.
The hiccups forced the technical committee to make adjustments to the initial programme of events and resolved to reschedule to Saturday to allow for more time to sort out the logistical challenges.
But coach Kennedy Kanyanta said in an interview from Brazzaville yesterday that the delay will not dampen his boxers’ spirits of minting medals.
Kanyanta said the delay will be an advantage for his boxers as they acclimatise to the Congo Brazzaville weather.
The boxers, who include Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Ben Muziyo, experienced lightweight pugilist Precious Makina, Charles Lumbwe (Lightweight), Peter Mukenuka (Light heavyweight), Bwalya Lumbwe (light flyweight), Emmanuel Kabwe (flyweight) and Timothy Chesu (bantamweight) arrived in Brazzaville last weekend.
“We were prepared to get to the ring any day and I think this delay will not have any effect on the team’s performance. It will just be to our advantage because it will give us more time to get used to this country’s weather,” Kanyanta said.
He said his charges were prepared to face any opponents and reaffirmed his promise of medals to the nation.
Meanwhile, the last batch of athletes left yesterday with Zambia Swimming Union (ZASU) president David Thompson imploring the three swimmers to aim at winning medals at the Games.
Thomson urged the swimmers, Mathews Shone, Shani Welton and Ralph Goveia, to put in their best and do the country proud by winning medals.
Thompson said in an interview that government did its part by ensuring that athletes to represent the country at the AAG were well prepared and what remains for them is to pay back with good results.
“I am aware that swimming will be represented by three athletes which is a small number but they should at least reap a medal because it was not easy for the Government to find funds to send athletes for such a competition,” he said.
Thomson said the swimmers have been training for a long time and took part in various competitions to prepare for the AAG.