Africa-Press – Tanzania. NGOME have topped the Champions of Champions tournament after collecting five of the seven gold medals while, the second-placed Iringa coming with two gold medals.
The competition held at the Tanganyika Packers arena in Kawe, Dar es Salaam brought a total of 60 medalists who won the National Boxing Open Championship in Dar es Salaam in August and Manyara in September this year.
The league commenced this Monday and completed on Wednesday.
The boxers came from JKT, Ngome, Prisons, Iringa, Manyara, Arusha, Mwanza, Kagera, Pwani and Dar es Salaam regions.
Ngome walked with pride in the competitions from the outstanding performance displayed by Yusuf Changalawe, George Constantino, Hamad Furahisha and Kassim Mbindwike.
The Tanzanian champion and the national team boxer Yusuf Changalawe (Light Heavyweight) won the Gold medal after the referee stopped the fight in the second round to rescue Justine Chota from Tanzania Prisons.
George Constantino collected his gold medal in the fly weight category by beating Steve Anastaz of Ngome.
Ngome pocketed their third medal through Hamad Furahisha who won by points over his fellow club member Ezra Paul in Bantamweight category.
Kassim Mbindwike won the fourth medal for his club after beating Adam Hassan of Ngome in the Welterweight category.
The fifth victory and gold medal was pocketed by Kelvin Kipinge (middleweight) who took down Hemed Sanagai of Prisons. Second-placed Iringa won two gold medals through Hamad Hashim and Hassan Mrutu.
Hashim defeated Helma Shehekthunzi by technical knockout in the first round of the light fly weight category. Both boxers are from Iringa.
Hassan Mrutu won the second gold for Iringa after winning a fierce bout against Abdallah Mfaume of Ngome in the light Welterweight bout.
According to the Boxing Federation of Tanzania’s Secretary-General, Lukelo Willilo, the tournament will be used to select the final national team squad that will participate in the 2021 international competitions.
The selected team will represent Tanzania in the last Tokyo Olympic qualifiers which will be staged next year in Paris, France.
The squad will also participate in AIBA World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia in March next year.
Apart from having the successful season, BFT has called upon boxing fans and stakeholders to support boxing in the country. As through boxing a group of youth gets employment.
