Boxer Ambunda might not go to Olympics

NAMIBIAN boxer Paulus Natangwe Ambunda might not go to the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, in August this year since his employers, the Namibia Defence Force (NDF), are not willing to release him.

Ambunda would be the only boxer representing Namibia at the Olympic Games after he qualified during the All Africa Games held in Nigeria earlier this year. Ambunda, who fights in the flyweight category, stands a chance to lose his position to his Egyptian counterpart whom he beat in Abudja, Nigeria, if he is not released in time.The NDF responded negatively to a request by the Namibia Amateur Boxing Federation (NABF) for the release of the boxer.In a letter responding to the NABF, the NDF’s Permanent Secretary, Petrus Shivute, said: “It is regrettable to inform you [sic] that the recruit Paulus Natangwe Ambunda cannot be released from his duties at this point of time.The member is a recruit and thus busy with certain stages of training.”Shivute’s response also expressed the concern that Ambunda would, as a result of going to the Olympics, ” … lose direction and finally fail the entire training, which is going to be detrimental to his career in the final analysis.”Initially, the boxing authorities wanted Ambunda to attend a training camp from May 20 in Cuba before he proceeded to Athens ahead of the Games, due to start on August 13.The boxing co-ordinator of the NABF, Ambrosius Kandjii, who was supposed to act as the manager for the boxer, expressed disappointment over the response of the NDF.”I am very sad because the NDF has not been co-operative in this regard.We feel that it is a national obligation for the boxer to go to the Games,” he said.Kandjii said Ambunda has not been receiving the right training at the military base and had also gained weight.”His weight has almost reached 59 kilograms but he is required to be under 51kg.A boxer who is going to such an important event needs the right training and needs to eat correctly.He needs a sparring partner and this has not been the case at the base,” said Kandjii.Ambunda, who fights in the flyweight category, stands a chance to lose his position to his Egyptian counterpart whom he beat in Abudja, Nigeria, if he is not released in time.The NDF responded negatively to a request by the Namibia Amateur Boxing Federation (NABF) for the release of the boxer.In a letter responding to the NABF, the NDF’s Permanent Secretary, Petrus Shivute, said: “It is regrettable to inform you [sic] that the recruit Paulus Natangwe Ambunda cannot be released from his duties at this point of time.The member is a recruit and thus busy with certain stages of training.”Shivute’s response also expressed the concern that Ambunda would, as a result of going to the Olympics, ” … lose direction and finally fail the entire training, which is going to be detrimental to his career in the final analysis.”Initially, the boxing authorities wanted Ambunda to attend a training camp from May 20 in Cuba before he proceeded to Athens ahead of the Games, due to start on August 13.The boxing co-ordinator of the NABF, Ambrosius Kandjii, who was supposed to act as the manager for the boxer, expressed disappointment over the response of the NDF.”I am very sad because the NDF has not been co-operative in this regard.We feel that it is a national obligation for the boxer to go to the Games,” he said.Kandjii said Ambunda has not been receiving the right training at the military base and had also gained weight.”His weight has almost reached 59 kilograms but he is required to be under 51kg.A boxer who is going to such an important event needs the right training and needs to eat correctly.He needs a sparring partner and this has not been the case at the base,” said Kandjii.