Reigning Commonwealth Games light welterweight champion Jonas Junias Jonas headlines Namibia’s team for the All Africa Games in August.
The Namibia Boxing Federation announced the team on Sunday, following the recent Kamunu National Elite Boxing Championship at Katima Mulilo.
The nationals saw 75 boxers between the ages of 18 and 40 compete across eight weight classes from all 14 regions. A total of 65 bouts took place over the two days.
Also making the team were the best boxers at the tournament, being Johannes Trofinus (flyweight, 52kg), Ndevelop TryAgain (featherweight, 57kg), Martin Kambalili (welterweight, 69kg), Andreas Shikongo (middleweight, 75kg), Immanuel Shanika (light heavyweight, 91kg) and Naftali Shoya (heavyweight, 91kg+), who all won their categories.
The beaten finalists will be on stand-by in the event that the national champions are unable to compete when the games are held in Morocco.
Coaches Chris Kangoronduezu (Kunene) and Patrick Siluka (Zambezi region) will lead the fighters in Rabat, along with team manager Benjamin Rebang.
“The aim of hosting this event was to select an elite national team to compete at the African Games in Morocco, the World Boxing Championship in Russia, and to identify talented boxers for development. The tournament was a resounding success,” NBF public relations officer Robert Pendapala Haihambo said.
The national competition was made possible with the contributions of Kamunu Holdings, the Ministry of Sports, Youth and National Service, the Zambezi governor’s office and the Namibia Sports Commission.
“The partnership with Kamunu Holdings saw the company sponsoring the event venue, meals and accommodation for the various regional teams and officials. The company is based in the Zambezi region, and operates in the manufacturing, retail, health, construction, import/export and fuel industries,” Haihambo explained.
“The sponsorship will go a long way in developing Namibia’s most successful sport as we strive towards boxing mass participation and excellence.”
Full national championship results:
First place – Erongo region (four gold medals, one silver and one bronze);
Second – Khomas region (three silvers);
Third – Oshana region (one gold and one silver);
52kg – Johannes Trofinus (Oshana) beat Mathew Ndilenga (Zambezi); 57kg – Ndevelop TryAgain (Ohangwena) beat Immanuel Gabriel (Erongo); 63kg – Jonas Junias Jonas (Erongo) beat Gabriel Shigwedha (Khomas); 69kg – Martin Kambalili (Erongo) beat Matias Hamutenya (Kavango West);
75kg – Andreas Shikongo (Uniformed Forces 2) beat Josua Stephanus (Oshana); 81kg – Immanuel Shanika (Erongo) beat Mabusis Dube (Zambezi); 91kg – Weitere Ovia (Uniformed Forces 1) beat John Ndengu (Khomas); 91kg + – Naftali Shoya (Erongo) beat Appolus Kapena (Khomas).
–namibian.co.na
