The Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport(MIJESPOC) has confirmed that only two boxers will participate in the second leg of the African Olympic qualifiers due in Windhoek, Namibia from March 22-April 2. The Secretary General in the Sport Ministry, Jean Pierre Karabaranga told Times Sport yesterday that only two slots will be available to national pugilists at Namibia’s Olympic qualifiers due to financial constraints. We shall give the boxing federation sponsorship for only two boxers to take part in the qualifiers. Financial constraints is the only reason the government is not sending more boxers, Karabaranga said. Rwanda missed out on the first qualifier of the Africa Olympic qualifiers which was held from January 22-31 in Algiers, Algeria due to lack of funds. The boxing federation technical director Gashugi Kananura, who also doubles as the national team trainer has said that he will pick the finest for the Namibia qualifier. It is a bit tricky to select two boxers among nineteen who beat the provisional list last year but I will do so, Gashugi said. Meanwhile, the international boxing governing body, AIBA has prepared qualifiers for each of its members- America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania, in which each continent will host two qualifiers. With African continent entitled to take 60 boxers to this year’s Olympic Games, Rwanda who took part in the first qualifying round is expected to find difficult at securing a slot in the remaining 30 slots available in the Namibia phase.Ends
