Eight Tanzanian boxers, under the banner of the national boxing team known as the Black Rhinos, step into the ring today in Nairobi, Kenya, as the African Zone 3 Boxing Championship gets underway at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.
The team, brimming with confidence and national pride, is led by Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Kassim Mbundwike, who will face Manzongo Anderson of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the light middleweight (71kg) category.
Mbundwike, one of Tanzania’s most experienced amateur boxers, is expected to set the tone for the team’s performance at the week-long regional event.
Other members of the squad include George Mbonabucha, who will take on Kumbo Mwinyi from Kenya B in the featherweight (57kg) division, and Ezra Paul, who will square off against Washington Wandera from Kenya A in the lightweight (60kg) category.
The tournament, which brings together some of the best boxers from East, Central, and parts of Southern Africa, features a total of 32 bouts scheduled for today.
The matches will be staged in two sessions afternoon and evening at Kasarani’s indoor venue, which has been a hive of sporting activity since the competition opened earlier this week.
In other bouts involving Tanzanian fighters, Juma Athumani, Shafii Mbaraka, Aziz Chala, King Lucas, and Emmanuel Augostino will also be in action, representing the country in various weight classes against opponents from Gabon, Uganda, Kenya, and DR Congo.
The African Zone 3 Championship serves as a crucial qualifying platform and a test of form for boxers preparing for major continental and global competitions.
For Tanzania, the tournament offers an opportunity to gauge the strength of its athletes and sustain the country’s growing reputation in regional boxing.
Team Tanzania’s technical bench expressed optimism about the fighters’ readiness, saying the squad had undergone intensive training and tactical preparation before traveling to Nairobi.
The Black Rhinos are aiming to improve on their past performances and bring home medals, reinforcing Tanzania’s presence in Africa’s amateur boxing scene.
As the gloves go up in Nairobi, all eyes will be on the Tanzanian camp to see if the team can roar to victory and lift the Zone 3 title.