ZBF TELLS BOXERS TO STAY FOCUSED AFTER DOMINATING ZONE-4 GAMES

THE Zambia Boxing Federation (ZBF) has urged national team boxers to remain focused after winning the 2022 Region Four Elite Africa Boxing Championship held in Mozambique.

Zambia dominated the medals basket after scooping 11 medals, five gold medals, three silver and three bronze medals.

Boxers Patrick Chinyemba, Mwengo Mwale, Derrick Chalata, Emmanuel Katema and Felistus Nkandu scooped Gold medals while Obert Musonda, Shaft Mwandwa and Margret Tembo collected Silver models with Bruce Kazewa, Jack Malenda and Juliana Kasonka picking Bronze.

The performance in Mozambique cheered ZBF president Dan Chiteule who congratulated the boxing team for making the country proud.

Chiteule however noted the need for the boxers to keep working hard as they prepare for the 2022 Commonwealth Games slated for Birmingham.

"I would just urge them to remain focused because I feel this is just the beginning of more especially that were also trying to prepare for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in July so it is a matter of staying focused. We might not take everyone for the Commonwealth Games but there are a lot of engagements coming through as well," Chiteule said.

He said ZBF was proud of the performance of the boxers from the under-20 who performed well at a bigger stage which attracted boxers from South Africa, Botswana, hosts Mozambique, eSwatini, the Seychelles and Lesotho.

"We are very happy with the performance of the boxers, others were fighting at the elite stage for the first time, they had just graduated into the senior team and fighting at that level was impressive," Chiteule said.

"We are building a team, we are looking at the 2024 Paris Olympics and beyond otherwise we are very happy as ZBF."

Chiteule reaffirmed ZBF's commitment to ensure that the boxer are prepared adequately for the crucial tournaments ahead.