By ELIAS CHIPEPO –
ORIENTAL Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) and Exodus International Boxing Promotions (EIBP) have both called for the removal of Kennedy Kanyanta and Maybin Gunduzani as national boxing coaches.
Meanwhile, EIBP proprietor Anthony Mwamba has expressed sadness that the embattled Zambia Boxing Federation (ZBF) leadership failed to deal with the sexual abuse matter that saw his female boxers apparently ‘abused’ by coaches while in camp.
The country’s two leading boxing stables have also questioned the rationale behind the Thomas Chileshe-led ZBF executive decision to bring back persons facing various allegations when the country was not lacking in qualified coaches.
OQBP operations manager Christopher Malunga said he found it strange that Kanyanta, who confessed to collecting money from boxers during the All-African Games (AAG) in Congo Brazzaville to refund Chileshe, can be retained as coach.
Malunga wondered how the boxers will work with the same coach they exposed to be part of the corruption activities in ZBF.
He said the boxers’ welfare should come first and that selfish individuals should not be allowed to mistreat boxers.
He said the country has qualified coaches like Wisdom Mudenda among others who can take charge of the team instead on bringing people facing serious allegations.
“This is not about me or Anthony Mwamba wanting to challenge positions no. We have no interest in ZBF positions but our major concern is what is happening in the federation. What we want is for the boxers to go out there and perform well but we wonder how that can happen if we you bring back people who had quit after confessing to been part of corruption.
“Kanyanta implicated himself in this scandal where he personally collected money from boxers and he confessed and we have him on record, what he did was serious and I wonder why even Chileshe has refused to step down,” he said.
He expressed hope that the Ministry of Sport which is handling the matter will help to come up with a solution especially that even a petition was signed for the removal of Chileshe.
Malunga said he wants to be part of a group that will bring sanity in boxing and want boxers to be picked on merit after trials unlike current scenario where pugilists are picked on past records.
Mwamba said he was saddened with what happened in camp and that the affected girls were ready to testify before any agency.
He said he was disappointed that the coaches would opt to abuse the girls instead of being professional in their conduct.
“Actually Esther Phiri was more annoyed and wanted to take the matter to the ministry herself. The affected girls reported what happened in camp to their parents who contacted me, this is a serious case but I wonder how a person who was in charge can still be on the coaching bench,” Mwamba said.
Mwamba said his stable has invested so much in the boxers and would not just sit idle when things were not being done well.