By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
THE Zambia Amateur Boxing Federation (ZABF) has announced plans to change the federation’s name by dropping the ‘Amateur’ at the forthcoming annual general meeting (AGM) set for March 29 at Nyaka Lodge in Kabwe.
ZABF president Thomas Chileshe said in an interview yesterday that move was in conformity to the requirement by the world amateur boxing body (AIBA) for all federations to strictly to switch to semi-professional
Chileshe said he has since proposed the Zambia Olympic-Style Boxing Federation (ZOBF) as the new name subject to ratification at the AGM.
He therefore called on the boxing family to make suggestions on the suitable name for the federation that will be considered at the AGM.
The planned change comes 10 years after the federation changed its name from the Amateur Boxing Association of Zambia (ABAZ).
“The ZABF will change name …the name Amateur will be buried after the AGM. I, however, appeal to boxing lovers that they are free to suggest the new name that will meet our boxing styles.
My proposed name for new Federation is ‘Zambia Olympic-Style Boxing Federation’ and again I repeat this is my own, you can propose then will shall deliberate it at the AGM and pick the most suitable,” Chileshe said.
AIBA has created a section that has turned professional and will see a lot of boxers turn professional without leaving AIBA and earn a living unlike leaving a body that groomed them for the money driven ranks.
According to AIBA, this move has been necessitated by the high number of boxers turning professional and being thrown onto the streets by various stables, a situation the AIBA feels wastes all year its spends in developing boxers.