By Meditation Mposi
Mandhlenkosi Marusenga, a learner at Mutonhori High School, Zaka is upbeat, expecting victory ahead of the World Boxing Day commemorations to be held at Palace Hotel in Bulawayo on August 24, 2024.
August 24 is World Boxing Day and in Zimbabwe it will be commemorated in Bulawayo where boxers from the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) and other local boxing clubs are expected to participate in the tournament, with former boxing champion Charles Manyuchi expected to be guest of honour.
Speaking to TellZim News, the 23-year-old Marusenga who has a high record of winning with 62 wins out of a total of 68 bouts said he was confident and expecting to bring the medal home.
“I am looking forward to win. Since I started participating in this sport I have had 68 bouts and out of these I have 62 wins and 6 losses.
“I have no doubt in myself, I am very talented and in the future l see myself achieving some of my goals. The last match I had was in Durban, South Africa where I lost in the semifinals and became the bronze medalist,” said Marusenga.
The boxer said his boxing career started in 2014 and he was inspired by his elder brother who is also a boxer.
“I began to have interest in boxing after watching my elder brother taking part in this sport and decided to take this path, that is when I started training. I see myself competing at international arenas and become a household name in the sport,” said Marusenga.
He added that despite being talented he faced challenges in securing funds for some of the tournaments in foreign countries as he has no sponsor, which disadvantaged him.
“Over the years I have had many challenges when it comes to participating in matches outside the country due to lack of funds and sponsorship. I am a very talented boxer but l feel like in Zimbabwe boxing lacks support.
“In 2019 I was supposed to have a match in Mozambique but failed to attend due to lack of funds. This year I was supposed to go to France for the Olympics but again failed due to lack of money. Prior to the Olympics, I was supposed to go to Russia but I failed to go because there was no money,” said Marusenga.
Marusenga who is still a learner further said he had challenges in participating in some tournaments as his academic timetables clashed with the matches with the upcoming tournament clashing with his final Advanced Level exams.
“I was supposed to go to Congo in October with the Zimbabwe Boxing team but I am no longer going because I will be sitting for my Advanced Level exams,” said Marusenga.
Marusenga is also facing challenges in the boxing equipment therefore reducing his training sessions.
Since 2014, Marusenga has had matches in Harare, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, Hwange, Chivhu, Beitbridge and once in Durban, South Africa.
His coaches are Phobias Mupfuti from Victoria Falls, Mark Sibanda from Bulawayo and Alexander Kwangwara from Harare.
