The Zone II boxing competition that was expected to start yesterday never materialized as the countries which were expected to take called for a postponement for today.
Speaking to Awoko Sports the head of the technical team, Lumprie Sisay, said yesterday that they held a technical meeting in the morning to look at the possibility for the competition to start.
But during the meeting the Malian and Guinean delegations appealed for the postponement of the competition for today as most of their boxers were suffering from fatigue because of their long journey to Freetown.
Chairman Sisay said based on that fact they wasted no time but to grant them their request.
He disclosed that about 35 boxers would take part in the three days competition that would start today and end on Sunday at the National Stadium and that Saturday would be a resting day.
During the competition Sierra Leone will showcase 11boxers; Guniea 11, Senegal 5 and Mali 8.
Chairman Sisay disclosed that Gambia that might not honour the competition because of financially constraint. He also revealed that some judges and referees from the visting countries would joint Sierra Leone judges and referees to officiate the competition.
In another development one of Sierra Leone’s professionally boxers, Ulric Caramba Coker, has donated boxing equipment to the association.
Before presenting the equipment, Coker said they would be a morale boaster to the national team.
He mentioned that most of the important items he had donated to the association included 9 track suits, 4 IBA approved head guards,7 sets of training gloves, 3 sets of training pads, 3 sets of training boxing T shirts, 4 hats and 4 T shirts from the British Army.
He also donated over five Glum Shield with medals and trophies for the competition.
The financial secretary, Ibrahim Sankoh who received the equipment on behalf of the association, thanked Coker for the equipment at this critical time.