Cheka-Ajetovic bout support plea

Dar es Salaam. Local private firms and government institutions have been been requested to demonstrate their commitment to sports development by supporting professional boxing.

The call has been made by the director of Hall of Fame Boxing and Promotions Company, Jay Msangi, ahead of the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental super middleweight title bout between Francis Cheka and Serbian UK-based boxer Geard Ajetovic.

It is scheduled to be held at Leaders Club grounds in the city on February 27.

Msangi said that professional boxing, unlike others in the country, was the only sport with the potential to enhance Tanzania’s pride beyond the country’s borders. He rolled out the names of some of the boxers to drive the point home. They included the Matumla brothers, Rashid “Snake Man”and Mbwana “Golden Boy”, Cosmas Cheka, Karama Nyilawila, Anthony “Piston Mover” Mathias, and Francis Miyeyusho.

He said that the Cheke-Ajetovic bout has attracted tremendous attention, as many television stations had indicated an interest to screen the event live. Msangi said a decision has yet to be made on which station would be granted the right to cover the event, as some logistical issues had yet to be sorted out.

“Initial preprations have been completed. The the two boxers are in intensive preparations, Cheka in the city and Ajetovic is doing so in England. Our focus now is on mobilising sponsorship in to order to make the event brilliant,” he explained, adding: “Previously, we staged fights at Diamond Jubilee hall, the last one featuring Mohamed “Snake Junior” Matumla and China’s Xinghua Wang. The house was full and several professional boxing fans were deeply upset as they couldn’t get tickets. Leaders Club grounds is the only perfect solution, as it has the capacity to accommodate all fans.” Msangi said the event would certainly be thrilling, due to the fact that Cheka is determined to revenge against Ajetovic’s victory during the fight held at Leisure Centre, Peterlee, County Durham, United Kingdom in 2008 .

Cheka lost on points 80-74 in the fight was under Mark Curry. However, the results were very controversial and Cheka is all out to prove his worth. Msangi said that he had already secured government blessings for the fight which is also expect to feature professional boxers from France and other boxing-fanatical countries in the game.

“I call upon all Tanzanians to support the fight, as Cheka, whom we should regard as opur ambassador in the game, is very popular famous in Great Britain. Fans there admire him because he has fought four times in their country; we now need to witness his brilliance on home soil,” he said. Tanzania Professional Boxing Organization (TPBO)-Limited President, Yasin “Ustadh” Abdallah, echoed Msangi’s call and urged the private firms to transcend soccer in their sponsorship generosity. Abdallah said that Tanzanians have to change and shift attention to other sports, since the most loved sport (football) was producing disappointing results.

“We need to support professional boxing, we have world stars like Cheka, Rashid Matumla, Mbwana Matumla and many others, what are we gaining in football, are we happy with poor ,” he queried, elaborating:

“Last year, was very bad for football. We lost 3-0 to Egypt and then 7-0 to Algeria, and yet, surprisingly, sponsors are still focusing on the game. This is utterly shameful,” said Abdallah.

He said TPBO Limited will be the local co-ordinator of the fight which is expected to be very tough, and for which various television stations within and beyond the country are scrambling to to buy rights.

Cheka’s trainer, Abdallah “Commando’ Lilamba, said Cheka is ready for the fight and was supposed to attend the press conference, but had travelled to Morogoro to solve family problems. “Cheka was tuned for the press conference, but his wife called him early in the morning to inform his about their very sick child. rather than to return Morogoro, but he is ready for the fight and we call his manager, Juma Ndambile of Advanced Security Limited to take him abroad for training,” said Lilamba.