The narcotics scandal that has hit the Boxing Federation of Tanzania in 2008 has to a great extent contributed to the game’s downfall. Despite end of the narcotics scandal, the repercussions associated with it are still lingering long in the memories of the game’s stakeholders.
BFT has experienced a huge rift between the body and sponsors to the extent of losing assistance in carrying out its operations. Several times BFT has complained over the lack of resources to establish camping for amateur boxers who are lined up to feature in international championships, the likes of Commonwealth and Olympic Games staged across major cities in the world.
Poor preparations that are linked with lack of funds have seriously affected performance of our boxers who have been reduced to punching bags at international platform.
Besides dwindling of amateur boxing, the professional version of the game has also been involved in serious problems connected to poor administration as Boxing promoters have been unreliable and lack credibility as they have many times conned boxers through dubious contracts. Not once, not twice boxers have either boycotted to compete or competed without being paid.
While the game has been in disarray, boxing fans are still available in abundance as exhibited during annual national amateur championships staged in Dar es Salaam’s suburb of Kawe. Fans have been flocking the Kawe venue throughout the tournament duration and in big numbers.
The week-long tourney has always proved beyond reasonable doubt that if well organised, the game can be staged in enclosure venues to realise sizeable gate collection.
Those who turn out at Kawe are just a tip of an iceberg in terms of numbers of the fans scattered across the country.
During the era of boxing legends in the likes of Matumla brothers, Joseph Marwa and Spinks Mhilu to mention but a few, fans used to flock venues whenever boxing matches were staged.
Fan base is still wide and huge in terms of numbers only for the federation to improve organisation and win hearts of sponsors.
Besides fans and sponsors, the number of young generation of boxers joining the profession has been increasing as exhibited by those who travell all the way from upcountry to feature in the just national championships.
With good organisation by BFT, boxing is likely to not only increase in popularity but also produce talents that can be groomed into potential future professionals.
Having said that, we hereby congratulate the boxing federation for successfully staging the national championships that has to a huge extent accelerated the revival of the game though it has been organised the hard way.
Attempt should also be made to do away with all unreliable boxing promoters who are working with a view of tarnishing image of the game.
_0.jpg?itok=QU87XW8D){kind=tracking}
.jpeg?itok=vCj6bCRe)
