Row over Zone VI boxers selection
The National Amateur Boxing Committee (NABC) has accused the Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) of stepping out of its mandate to select six Zone VI amateur boxers, but Maba deny the allegations.
NABC vice-general secretary Gabriel Chirwa raised the issue with Weekend Nation on Wednesday, His concerns were shared by general secretary Maxwell Tsitsi when asked to validate the claims against Maba.
Chirwa said Maba only involved NABC chairperson Eric Masenda when picking the Zambia-bound squad of Steve Maliko, Ernest Msuliza, Salimu Chazama, Tinkhani Kamanga, Israel Kammwamba and Aubrey Masamba.
“Our committee was set up to take charge of amateur boxers. Our mandate includes selecting stand-out performers from national championships to represent Malawi and also grading those due for promotion into the professional ranks,†Chirwa said in an interview from his Nkhata Bay base.
He accused Maba of rendering NABC officials useless when they were invited to the national amateur championship which took place in Liwonde in October this year.
“Some Maba officials have branded me Thompo [famous Hollywood movie kick boxing character] for questioning the boxers’ selection. In Liwonde, they took over everything, including giving out awards. Maba also sidelined our committee in the previous Zone VI squad selection,†Chirwa claimed.
However, on Wednesday, Maba general secretary Arthur Nanthuru faulted the NABC of misunderstanding the Zone VI squad selection criterion.
“I am surprised with their claims as I informed their GS [Tsitsi] and he helped me in selecting the boxers after consulting clubs. But I must admit it was not easy. There is a misunderstanding. They think it is the usual Zone VI championship. This is a special tournament for those Under-19 and the squad was selected a year ago,†said Nanthuru.
But Tsitsi denied on Wednesday being involved in the selection. Sports Council executive secretary George Jana, whose body is coordinating the Zone VI team selection, said squad selection is based “on the best of the Under-20 category†or those turning 20 on December 31.
“It is thus not just the best performers. This, however, does not mean that the amateur committee cannot be contacted as the responsible organ for amateurs within the association, to make the selection. The associations have to deal with their own internal politics,†said Jana.
Other associations such as the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) selected their squad through Under-17 head coach John Kaputa and technical director Jack Chamangwana, said the association’s CEO Suzgo Nyirenda when asked for comparison on squad selection.
