The Sunday Mail
By Langton Nyakwenda
17 February 2013
Zimbabwe Boxing Board of Control chairman Paul Nenjerama has come to terms with the magnitude of the challenge that lies ahead as he braces to spearhead the sport’s revival. Nenjerama — a former ANSA judges panel chairman and a veteran educationist — met the Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, David Coltart last Wednesday for a “heads up†meeting. The newly installed boxing leader heads an eight-member board appointed by the Minister and is now expected to finally convene the first board meeting this week.
“The boxing fraternity is anxious and I am aware of that but I feel we need to do all the homework and consultations before I call for the inaugural board meeting. The task we have is a daunting one and I have come to terms with the real job at hand especially after my first meeting with the Minister.
“It’s going to require everyone with boxing at heart to come together and save this sport. We need to bury the hatchets and work together to resuscitate the sport,†said Nenjerama.
The boxing boss is pushing for the establishment of a permanent secretariat to run boxing affairs on a day-to-day basis but has to seek financial support from the Ministry.
“We need to start afresh, create a new database of all boxing information and this requires a permanent secretariat to run with it. It also requires resources and we will engage both the Sports and Recreation Commission and the Ministry on the way forward,†he said.
Nenjerama is set to meet SRC director general, Charles Nhemachena on February 19 before presiding over the inaugural board meeting. Nhemachena is currently on leave and is expected back into office tomorrow.
“I know the boxing fraternity is getting anxious because we are delaying to meet as a board and kick start the operations but it’s better to do all the necessary consultations and engagements before the real work starts,’’ said Nenjerama.
The Sunday Mail Sport has learnt through reliable sources that a number of US-based promoters have enquired about the possibility of staging fights in Zimbabwe now that a substantive board has been installed.
“There are fights that are being lined up for as early as April and a lot of preparations are needed. Remember the country does not have a boxing ring and there is the issue of records that need to be updated and the boxers need licenses,†said a promoter who asked for anonymity.
Zimbabwe has also been given a chance to host the World Boxing Union female welterweight title and the boxing board is expected to play a leading role.