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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter

THE boxing pair of Tatenda Biningu and Evans Usavihwevhu who recently won WBF titles in Chivhu have  secured one-year sponsorship deals with Majestics and Phil-Jen Lodges.

The two will receive a monthly salary of US$200 each for the next 12 months.

Biningu and Usavihwevhu are walking with a spring in their step following their victories in Chivhu on August 6.

Biningu unified the WBF and WABA titles after defeating Robert Kachiza of Malawi while Usavihwevhu won the lightweight WBF international title over Yohane Banda also from Malawi.

And they have been rewarded with a deal that will see them concentrate on their game.

Majestics and Phil-Jen Country Lodges co-director Takudzwa Chibaya said his organisation was determined to helping out talented sports-persons realise their potential.

“We have realised that there is a lot of young talent in this country. But some have not been given the opportunity to excel.

“I will tell you one thing, the day (former WBC silver welterweight champion) Charles Manyuchi knocked at our doors and asked us to sponsor boxing, I didn’t understand what boxing was really about.

“But, with time I started to understand this game and got to fall in love with it.

“We have been supporting these young boxers for the past six or seven years and we have seen that they are talented. They are dedicated and committed to scale new heights in their careers. They are willing to conquer the world,” said Chibaya.

“There is nothing better than having that champion mentality. I believe in their talent and I am sure they will go far. It was an easy decision to make them our ambassadors.

“If you look at it, these guys were already ambassadors for our company but then we have decided to motivate them by formalising the roles.

“So we have decided to put them on salary so they will get paid as our ambassadors representing Majestics and Phil-Jen Country Lodges.’’

Chibaya said the two will also benefit from the facilities they are putting in place in Masvingo.

“We have also put facilities in Masvingo to make sure that when they visit Masvingo, they will have some ideal facilities to practice.

“Athletes are lacking proper facilities to hone their skills and that is the reason why we are not making it very big internationally. So this is our own small way of helping out. We want to create a conducive environment for these guys to take their talents to new heights.”