Eight Somali boxers have already been KO’d even before the Durban boxing bonanza starts on April 15.
Scarcity of funds has denied the eight Somali boxers a chance to participate in the Mandela African Boxing Cup tournament.
A disappointed Somali Boxing Federation Vice-President, Awil Gele said they will now send only three boxers to Durban.
“We had planned to be represented by 10 male and one female boxer Naiima Bulhan based in Finland but we’re sending only three,” said Gele who blamed the government for failing to support them.
“We are covering it by ourselves through the Somali Boxing Federation without any help from the government or good Samaritans, it’s hard.
“IBA are only paying for accommodation, we’re paying for air tickets and the rest ourselves.”
The three boxers going to Durban are middleweight Osh Williams and welterweight Mohmud Said (pictured) all based in the United Kingdom and flyweight Abdirahim Bashir who is in Nairobi including coach Kamal Mohamed.
Credit: AFBC Communication
