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| Sports |
| No short cuts in boxing—Sports Minister |
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by
Leonard Sharra, 24 March 2004
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14:53:00
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Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Phillip Bwanali on Wednesday advised graduating coaches from the week-long Level II boxing coaching course held at Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Lilongwe not to use short cuts in dealing with boxers, saying the practice may lead to serious injuries.
Bwanali, who was guest of honour at the closing ceremony of the high level boxing coaching course, described boxing as a tough sport requiring serious discipline.
“Boxing is a tough sport that requires serious discipline. There are no short cuts in this game. Where short cuts are used it may lead to serious injuries. As coaches, you must be very careful in identifying boxers. Get those who are fit and have the talent. Don’t take boxers who will always be pushed to the canvas,” advised Bwanali.
The sports minister urged boxing authorities to include retired boxers in their programmes.
“We had good boxers like Ali Faki, Chikoya Mphande, Drake Thadzi [out of the country] and many more. The experience that these old boxers have can be of great benefit to the upcoming ones,” said Bwanali.
On a lighter note, Bwanali asked ladies in the group not to use their new skills in beating their husbands.
“But if the husband is becoming a nuisance, you can give him a few jabs,” joked Bwanali, drawing laughter from the audience.
Responding to a request by vice president of the Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) Captain Kakhuta Banda, seeking an audience with President Bakili Muluzi, Bwanali assured the boxing body that he would talk to the President on the issue.
Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association of Malawi (Ocgam) treasurer Laurence Arthur hailed English trainer Brian Hinkley for conducting the course in a professional manner.
Arthur urged the graduates to go straight into the field preparing local boxers for the 2006 Commonwealth games in Australia.
Getrude Sanjale, speaking on behalf of the participants urged Maba to identify a leader for the coaches for proper coordination of coaching programmes.
Funded by International Olympic Committee (IOC) in collaboration with International Boxing Association (Aiba), the course was organised by Ocgam.
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