The Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board said the late former board member, Ambrosius Kandjii, played a crucial role in laying the foundation for the success currently being enjoyed by Namibian boxers.
Speaking to Nampa Wednesday, board member and former boxer Jason Taks Naule said Kandjii was a man of his word who loved boxing unconditionally.
“He did a lot for the sport of boxing, both amateur and professional boxing. He will be missed by the boxing family as he worked from being ringside to the Ministry of Sport, to the board and continued to support the sport even when he was a member of the National Assembly and Parliament, where he would champion the cause of boxing,” Naule said.
Nestor Tobias, founder and trainer at the Nestor Tobias Sunshine Boxing Academy, added that Kandjii was a developer who organised many developmental tournaments while he was at the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service.
“He was also a boxer in his junior days. He played a huge role in grooming most of us and these professional boxers that you see nowadays while he was at the ministry. He was also at the forefront of pushing for the establishment of women’s boxing, which unfortunately is still not well established in Namibia right now,” Tobias said.
Imms Moses of AC Boxing Academy boldly stated that Kandjii was the father of Namibian boxing.
“We all went through his hands at one point in time in our boxing careers. Ever since Kandjii left the ministry of sport, amateur boxing died a natural death in Namibia. During his time at the ministry, he would organise national championships and international tournaments. He would travel all over the country to set up development structures and that’s why we had strong representation at the international level. He made boxing what it is today,” he said.
Kandjii died Wednesday morning in the Gobabis State Hospital after a short illness, aged 49.
Kandjii was a former Swapo councillor for the Katutura Central Constituency and was National Council Member for the Khomas Region from 2010 to 2020.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
