Africa Boxing Confederation President (AFBC) Eyassu Berhanu has announced that the prize money for the boxers who participated in the Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, between September 9 and 18, 2022, will soon be disbursed.
According to Berhanu, the International Boxing Association (IBA) has awarded cash prizes ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 based on the medals won by the competitors.
“It’s unfortunate this delay happened when I was not in office but since I took over, I have placed the boxers’ prize money as a top priority because I do believe boxers are the backbone of boxing,” Berhanu stated in a recent press release from AFBC.
The announcement comes after a delay caused by previous financial mismanagement where funds meant for athletes were used for other organizational activities.
The payment delay pertains to the Maputo games and last year’s Africa Elite Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon.
The total amount owed to the athletes from both events is $177,500, which will be distributed among 29 boxers from Algeria, Mozambique, and Zambia.
The controversy began when former AFBC President Bertrand Mendouga utilized these funds to finance the opening of the federation’s new headquarters in Yaounde without the board’s consent.
The unilateral decision by Mendouga was met with significant backlash from the boxing community, especially the athletes, who expressed their frustration and confusion over the misuse of their winnings.
“The process is now at an advanced stage, I’m promising the boxers we’ll pay them,” Berhanu assured.
In the overall competition at Maputo, the host nation, Mozambique, emerged victorious, clinching five gold and two bronze medals.
Algeria followed closely, securing second place with four golds, five silvers, and six bronzes. Zambia, Morocco, and Cameroon also displayed strong performances finishing among the top contenders.
Meanwhile, Kenya was the top performer among the East African Community member countries, finishing 12th overall but first in the regional grouping, with Burundi and Uganda taking the second and third spots, respectively.
–pulsesports.co.ke
