DREAMING is the easiest of things that sports personalities can do, but acting on the dream is the hardest.
I have never heard of anyone dreaming of failure or aspiring to be unsuccessful. Failure does not play any part in dreaming.
The Ndola based Mitanda professional boxing stable may have been struggling to attract sponsors, but they have always kept their dream of producing world class boxers alive.
Interestingly, the stable has recognised that a dream is a journey that takes commitment, time, desire, and courage because great things are rarely easily attained.
In any given sport, it is very difficult nowadays to operate without resources owing to the various expenses that are incurred on a daily basis.
However, it is a different story for Mitanda boxers who have to grapple with numerous challenges everyday just to achieve their dreams of one day becoming successful pugilists in the country.
The stable that currently has seven boxers, who turned professional recently, is in dire need of support from the corporate world and other well-wishers in material or monetary terms.
I took some time to attend one of their training sessions during the week at Musa Kasonka Stadium gymnasium and was amazed by the extent of talent and work rate from the youngsters that are eager to become the Floyd Mayweather junior of Zambia tomorrow.
Unfortunately, they have to pursue their dream the hard way due to lack of equipment.
At the moment, the stable only has three gum shields and two pairs of gloves which usually rotate among the seven boxers.
In addition to that, boxers have no proper training kit hence there isn’t any defined attire as it should be in the world of boxing.
Coach Steven Chama said, “We are appealing for sponsorship in terms of gloves, gum shields and other equipment to prepare our boxers adequately for tournaments. It has not been easy for us to operate without equipment and we only hope someone would come to our aid.”
Let me take a look at some of the boxers Mitanda has been able to produce in the face of these challenges.
Emmanuel Kabwe, 22
The 22-year-old bantamweight boxer is a complete package in speed, size, power and Olympic pedigree.
He may be seen as a least proven fighter in the country but all signs point to an athlete on the way to excellence.
Last year, he knocked out seasoned Christopher Katanga in the national team selection trials in Lusaka to earn a place in the Congo Brazzaville All Africa Games boxing contingent, where he was eliminated by a Nigerian.
With sponsorship in place, Kabwe dreams of engaging in title fights to lift Zambia’s name higher on the global stage.
Mary Musole, 18
Inspired by female sensation Catherine Phiri, Musole has her eyes set at attaining mastery in the sport.
Zambia has had the finest female boxers in Catherine and Esther Phiri for some time now, and Musole might be heading the same route. She is a highly polished young fighter with big power who is ready to beat top competition at a very early juncture of her career.
Joshua Chimfwembe, 24
After years of boxing fans being forced to look at floppy pugilists, Chimfwembe is some kind of a marvel to watch. Ndola fans seem to be fully united behind him and he is widely seen as the country’s best shot at producing an elite talent since the likes of Kennedy Kanyanta.
The lightweight boxer beat Obert Mutapa of Indeni last in the Copperbelt tournament and his target is to have an all-conquering spirit like that of Mayweather junior.
Joseph Chewe, 22
“I want to be a great boxer, that is why I keep on working very hard every day regardless of the challenges that wed have been facing as a stable,” Chewe said.
I have read of many very successful dreamers that failed numerous times before they experienced success. If this is something to go by in the Mitanda boxers’ case, then there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The boxers have dreams to reach the pinnacle, it is therefore important for well-wishers to get on board and support their cause. Most great companies today were conceived from a dream, nurtured and grew into big institutions.
A challenge to the boxers is that they should not be afraid to dream. If you can dream it, you can do it!
Look out for another interesting topic in the next edition.
For comments: moseschimfwembe@gmail.com