By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
NCHANGA Amateur Boxing Club is angered with the Zambia Boxing Federation (ZABF)’s decision to call off of a tournament which the club should have hosted in Chingola.
Club chairperson Elias Kataya, a long time adversary of current ZBF president Thomas Chileshe, accused the national motherbody of trying to frustrate him in his efforts of promoting the sport in Chingola.
Kataya said that this was the third time this year that ZABF had moved in to hinder his boxing desire in the name of affiliation fees.
“I should have hosted a tournament two weeks ago but it was stopped after just one bout saying I had not paid affiliation fees. I have finished paying the affiliation fees but I do not know why the national association should be fighting me,” he said.
Kataya, a former national boxing coach, said that he on two occasions saw his boxers blocked from taking part in Copperbelt tournaments on account of non-payment of affiliation fees.
He said that on the first two occasions, he had not completed paying the affiliation fees but that the last instalment of the K750 was paid a month ago and deserved to be treated like any other affiliate.
But ZABF treasurer Joe Siame rebuffed Kataya’s accusation saying the only record the federation has was a November 18 payment of K200 which was way below the annual subscription fee.
“We receive subscription at the beginning of the year and not in November. He has paid K200 and it does not meet our requirements and if he claims he paid other instalments earlier, to whom did he pay and when. Let him show us the evidence,” Siame said.
However, Chileshe opted not to comment on the mater saying he will act at an appropriate time.
But a raged Kataya said that it was from such tournaments his club can raise some money to sustain operations as well as pay the affiliation fees.
“There are elections coming and such things always come up. I don’t know why I should be treated like this. Actually, let the ZBF announce the dates for elections which should be held early next year,” Kataya said.