Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
THE GOVERNMENT has hailed businesses who invest in sport development saying the two are like Siamese twins.
Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry said this during the official handover of a boxing ring to the Zimbabwe National Wrestling and Boxing Control Board at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
The ring was acquired by a local jewellery company BetterBrands.
The latter were in the limelight recently after bringing iconic American boxer Floyd Mayweather to Zimbabwe.
Coventry, whose speech was read by Ignatious Vambe, said boxing is on an upward trajectory in the country and ought to be supported.
“This donation is a significant milestone in the history of boxing in Zimbabwe as for the first time, the National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board has the much needed boxing equipment that will see the development of boxing in our communities,” she said.
“My Ministry is committed to continuing to support boxing and combat sport.
“Boxing has put the country on the limelight as is highlighted by the recent successes, the recent visit of Floyd Mayweather Junior and the hosting of World Boxing Council interim super bantamweight championship.
“On behalf of the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board, we want to express gratitude in a special way to Better Brands (Pvt) Limited who came on board and donated the boxing ring.
“Our encouragement to other corporates and businesses is to come on board and support sport through such donations towards sport equipment and provision of sport infrastructure.
“Sport by its nature relies on the support of business for sponsorship and this symbiotic relationship between sport and the business sector resonates well with the much-needed investment in sport.
“The donation of the boxing ring will contribute towards improving boxing performance which is in line with National Development Strategy (NDS) 1 Goal of Improving Performance from grassroots to elite level in sport”.
BetterBrands chief executive, Scott Sakupwanya, who was represented by his managing director Michael Mangondoza said his company was committed to seeing sport grow in the country.
“I have seen and witnessed a lot of talent in the community and my heart always wished to put a significant mark in the development of our community through sport and other initiatives.
“Allow me to say that my motivation to donate this boxing ring has been drawn from the fact that boxing has in recent years become a topical issue in various sports news.
“As such I have committed myself to partner with the growth of both the sport and the sportsmen.
“My hope is that this donation goes a long way in improving the sport and addressing such redundancy thereby curbing issues like drug and substance abuse.
“I would like to acknowledge the significant mark laid down so far in Zimbabwean boxing through the emergence of such champions as Charles Manyuchi, Monalisa Sibanda and Kudakwashe Chiwandire, the list is endless. This is a reflection of hard work that is being done and it requires complimentary efforts from corporates like us.
“I would like to urge fellow businessmen and corporates to come on board and partner with the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board.
“The donation of the boxing ring by BetterBrands (Pvt) Ltd is one of the more engagements that we look forward to having with the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board.”