Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
BOXERS from across the country will tomorrow have any opportunity to showcase their skills when they compete in the Zimbabwe Boxing Federation National Open tournament in Bulawayo.
ZBF will host their first competition of the year tomorrow and the one-day tournament is expected to feature fighters from all provinces as the national federation hopes to select teams to represent the nation in various regional competitions this year.

ZBF technical director Petros Masiyambumbi said the tournament was part of their selection process of national senior and junior teams.
“It’s part of an ongoing selection of teams for the Zone Six and Zone Four region tournaments. We will be having two more tournaments in March for the same selection process.

“So far we have four provinces that have confirmed their participation. Some have not yet begun preparations for this year but some might come on the day of competition without officially confirming.

“Even if they do not come the tournament will definitely be held with those four that have confirmed,” said Masiyambumbi.
Masiyambumbi rallied female boxers to take part in tomorrow’s tournament.

“This is an Open tournament and as an Open competition, we are hoping we will have female fighters. We are also looking forward to having the juniors and youths as we prepare for Zone Six.

“Our expectations this year are very high considering that we have a number of regional games lined up. We are expecting a high level of competition because of these regional events.

“People will be fighting for places in the national teams.
“We are looking at around 120 fighters,” said Masiyambumbi.

Some of the boxers to be selected tomorrow will take on a Zambian team next months in an international tournament.
Zambia will be using the event to prepare for the Commonwealth Games and Masiyambumbi said it will be an opportunity to expose their fighters to a foreign flavour.

“Zambia have requested that they want to come and compete with us. We are looking at 22 March as a possible date to have that tournament. It will help us for exposure,” said Masiyambumbi.

Some the provinces that have confirmed their participation for tomorrow’s tournament are Midlands, Matabeleland South, the Zimbabwe National Army and Matabeleland North.

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