By Victoria Godfrey
Tanga, Tanzania – Ngome Boxing Club, owned by the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (JWTZ), has reclaimed the National Club Boxing Championship after defeating long-time rivals MMJKT in the just-ended finals at Urithi Hall, Tanga.
Ngome secured the crown with six gold medals, ending MMJKT’s four-year reign. MMJKT, who had dominated the championship since 2020, managed four golds this time. Prison Services Club finished third, while Jeba Boxing Club settled for fourth place.
The victory marks Ngome’s first national title since 2019, when they last won in Iringa. Since then, they have struggled to match the dominance of Tanzanite Manyara and MMJKT. Their comeback highlights the competitive nature of Tanzanian boxing, where no single club can remain unchallenged for long.
Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT) president, Lukelo Willilo, praised Ngome for their resilience. He said the win reflects years of rebuilding and determination. He also urged other clubs to prepare better for upcoming tournaments, emphasizing that consistent training and discipline are the foundation of success.
The championship showed a wide spread of talent, with nine out of 15 clubs winning medals. This suggests that boxing is growing beyond a few dominant clubs and that smaller teams are making their presence felt. Individual awards also recognized rising stars, pointing to a new generation of boxers ready to shape the sport’s future.
Best Male Boxer went to Faki Issa of Jeba Boxing Club, who impressed by stopping MMJKT’s Maope Joseph in the second round of the featherweight category. The Best Female Boxer was Zainabu Kutaka of MMJKT, who maintained her form with a dominant 5–0 win over Ngome’s Vumilia Twalibu in the bantamweight division.
In the light heavyweight division, MMJKT’s Alphonce Abel demonstrated knockout power by defeating Ngome’s Milumbe James. His performance confirmed him as a strong successor to veteran boxer Yusuf Changalawe.
Ngome’s return to the top sends a strong message: investment in training, coaching, and discipline pays off. It also signals a more open competition in national boxing, raising hopes for Tanzania’s performance in regional and international tournaments.
