MBABANE – The Eswatini Boxing Association (EBA) has set its sights on gold at the IBA Africa Championships currently under way in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Two fighters, veteran Thabiso Dlamini and Qhawe Gamedze, flew out on Sunday under the guidance of Coach Muzi Shongwe. They are expected to step into the squared circle from today as the continental showpiece gathers pace.
EBA Secretary General (SG) Nkosinathi ‘Ras Fela’ Dlamini said the team’s target is clear.
“Our aim is gold for Eswatini,” he stated.
The boxers, he added, are focused, sharp, disciplined and in high spirits as they prepare to exchange leather on the biggest stage Africa has to offer this year.
Dlamini will box at 67kg while Gamedze contests the 60kg division. The championships, which officially opened on Monday at the Stade des Martyrs gymnasium in Kinshasa, run until Sunday November 1.
This year’s event marks a milestone as the first African Championships staged directly under the new IBA structure. A record 38 nations from across the continent have entered, fielding around 420 boxers which is a sharp rise from the 25 countries that took part in 2024. Organisers have scheduled two sessions of bouts each day to cope with the numbers, and entry for spectators is free under the slogan ‘Kinshasa na Rythme ya Boxe’ (Kinshasa to the Rhythm of Boxing).
“We wish our national team all the best. Let us rally behind them with our prayers and support. They carry our flag with pride,” Ras Fela said.
Prize money is also on offer. Gold medallists will receive E20 000. Silver medallists and bronze medallists E10 000 and E5 000, respectively.
Some of the participating nations;
Algeria, Lesotho, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
