The Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT) has secured sponsorships from two companies. BFT Administration Officer Saidi Adola did not either say how much the firms gave them or disclosed the names of the sponsors.
He said the boost would meet travelling and accommodation costs of the boxers who would compete in the African Zone Olympic Games qualifiers bout on March 22 in Namibia.
“What they have given us will enable us to send six boxers, two coaches and one official in the Namibia bouts,“ he said, adding that a well-wisher had also donated two return tickets for the boxers.
He said the boxers were in upbeat mood in their residential camp at the Ndege Beach Resort in Dar es Salaam.
Adola said the team would leave for Namibia on March 21.
Boxers who will travel are Hassan Fikiri (light fly weight), Emmilian Patrick (bantam), Petro Mtagwa (light), Hashim Simon (light), Joseph Martin (welter) and Leonard Machichi (middle).
Three boxers in the team failed in the Africa Zone Olympic Games qualifiers in Algeria in February. They are Simon, Machichi and Patrick.
The Games will be held in Beijing, China in August.
Tanzania will send two disciplines in China � boxing and athletics.
Six athletes have so far qualified for the games. Dickson Marwa, Samson Ramadhani, Msenduku Mohamed and Getuli Bayo are some of them.
BFT has not sent any boxing team in the Olympic Games for 12 years.
- SOURCE: Guardian
