▪️President Boniface Sokoni confirms Zambia will participate in the Men’s World Championships scheduled for Dubai from December 2-13. He was recently interviewed by boxersworld.co.ke on a wide of issues regarding Zambia boxing.
Question:As the new Zambia Boxing Federation President, tell us what are your immediate plans to improve boxing in your country?
Answer: My immediate plans are to assess the current state of our boxing infrastructure, identify areas of improvement, review our constitution and develop a comprehensive strategic plan. We’ll focus on grassroots development, talent identification, and providing our boxers with top-notch training and resources.
Q: How will you go about implementing the changes you have in mind?
A: We’ll start by engaging with our stakeholders, including boxers, coaches, and officials to understand their concerns and ideas. Then, we’ll establish a clear roadmap, setting achievable milestones and collaborate with local and international partners to secure funding and expertise.
Q: How do you intend to secure funding for your federation because without a healthy bank account there’s nothing much you can achieve.
A: We’ll diversify our revenue streams by exploring sponsorship deals with local businesses, leveraging government support, and applying for international grants. We’ll also enhance our communication strategy to showcase the benefits of partnering with the Zambia Boxing Federation.
Q: Once you have enough funds, what will be your priority in improving Zambia boxing?
A: In view of aiming at expanding boxing to rural areas, we have initiated some boxing clubs in Nakonde, Serenje and Mukushi Districts, we need to procure a boxing ring to cater for these areas in order to enhance competition and also embark on IBA certification training for the referee and judges and the coaches. Also providing our boxers with the necessary training equipment and training conditions including exposure.
Q:Which new tournaments do you plan to introduce?
A: We’re planning to introduce a national junior championships and a women’s boxing tournament to promote the sport among younger generations and females. We’ll also explore hosting international tournaments in Zambia to attract top teams and expose our boxers to high-level competition.
Q: Currently, what are the challenges facing Zambia boxing?
A: Our biggest challenges are lack of funding, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to top-class training and competitions. We’re also working to improve governance, transparency, and accountability within the federation.
Q: Is the government (that’s the Sports Ministry) supportive of boxing?
A: We’ve had positive interactions with the Ministry of Sport through the National Sports Council of Zambia and they’re committed to support boxing in Zambia. We’re working closely with them to secure funding and resources for the development of the sport.
Q: What’s your take on Zambia twice missing the Africa Elite Championships in Yaounde 2023 and Kinshasa 2024 due to lack of funds?
A: It’s disappointing that we missed these championships but we’re taking steps to ensure we don’t miss again. We’ve learned from the experience and are working tirelessly to secure funding and resources for our boxers to participate in major international tournaments.
Q: Is Zambia taking part in Men’s World Championships in Dubai in December this year?
A: We’re working on securing funding and finalising our team selection. We’ll do everything possible to ensure our boxers participate in the World Championships.
Q: How many boxers will you take to the World Championships?
A: Once funding is confirmed, we’ll select a team of talented boxers to represent Zambia. We’re aiming for a strong contingent but the exact number will depend on various factors, including qualification criteria and available resources.
Q: You were recently criticized for replacing experienced national team head coach Wisdom Mudenda and brought on board Charles Kangwa. Was the criticism justified?
A: We understand that the appointment of the new national team coach team and the Technical Committee Chairman may have raised some eyebrows. I would want to assure everyone that this decision was not taken lightly. We value the contribution of all our coaches, and we are confident that this new structure will take Zambian Boxing to the next level.
Q: Why did you remove Mudenda at a time when he was doing well with the national team. Was the change necessary?
A: You see, the Technical Committee’s primary function is to provide guidance on technical aspects of boxing, such as training methods, tactics, and competition strategy. Therefore Mudenda Star-2 coach’s experience and achievements are assets that can be leveraged to develop other coaches and improve the overall quality of boxing in Zambia, hence his appointment as the Technical Committee Chairman but unfortunately he has turned down the appointment. The new national coach had deputised coach Mudenda for quite a while before, and is an IBA Star-1 certified coach. He has competitive experience both locally and internationally, adequate technical skills, and ability to work with top-level boxers. He is also earmarked for a training course to upgrade to Star-2.
Q: What is your observation on how African boxing is managed compared to Europe and Asia?
A: African boxing has tremendous potential, but we face challenges in terms of infrastructure, funding, and exposure. Europe and Asia have well-established structures, better funding, and more resources, which gives them a competitive edge. However, we’re working to bridge the gap and develop our boxing ecosystem in Africa.
Q: Tell us about yourself. How long have you been involved in boxing management and previous positions held?
A: I have been in boxing management for about 11 years. I was the chairman of the Nkana Boxing Club for four years and the provincial chairman for Copperbelt Boxing Association for seven years. Take note Copperbelt is currently the biggest Provincial Association with the highest number of affiliated clubs in Zambia.
Q: Were you a boxer yourself?
A: Yes I was. I started my boxing when I was in primary school up until Form 2, but because my parents never approved of it I had to stop but the passion for boxing never left.
Q: Your Secretary General resigned in a huff in protest at the removal of Mudenda. Was the reason justified or is there something else we don’t know?
A: The Secretary General’s resignation was a surprise to us, and we’ve accepted his decision. I would like to point out here that prior to his resignation, he was slapped with disciplinary charges but rather than answering to the charges, he opted to resign. As a federation, we’ve made decisions that we believe are in the best interest of Zambian Boxing. The details of our internal discussions are private, but I can assure you that we’re committed to moving forward and developing our boxing program. We appreciate the Secretary General’s contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors.
