Eleven-year-old Joseph Nailonga, a boxer from Rainbow Boxing Club (RBC) aspires to become a Namibian Olympic gold medallist in future.
The Grade 5 learner at Akuniihole Primary School told Nampa during the Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) Kilimanjaro Boxing Club (KBC) Tournament weigh-in at Oshakati over the weekend, that he is not scared of his opponents despite his first amateur boxing fight.
The young determined Nailonga said: “I am not afraid of boxing, I want to fight and I am ready to showcase my talent, I want to fight like Harry Simon (the senior) and I want one day to represent my country at the Olympic Games as well as the All African Games and win gold medals.”
His coach and trainer Frans Nambahu who is also the owner of RBC said he is optimistic that his nephew will be a good and potential boxer in Namibia since he started boxing at an early age.
“I currently have 40 boxers of which some are still in school, they all wanted to come and participate in this championship but I had to limit the numbers because we were asked to have a maximum of 10 boxers.”
He said his club is currently challenged with the lack of training equipment and financial support, noting: “I don’t charge boxers, I only do it for passion because I love this sport, however I am asking good Samaritans to come on board and assist me with any kind of support.”
The MTC Kilimanjaro tournament took place from Friday until Saturday at Oshakati Independence Stadium in the Oshana Region. The bonanza attracted boxing clubs from regions such as Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Kunene.
According to KBC chairperson Joseph Bernhard, the tournament serves the purpose of selecting the best boxers from different boxing divisions who will represent their regions in the upcoming MTC Youth Games scheduled for December in the Khomas Region.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
