The Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT) has said its main priority following the recently concluded national open boxing championships is to strengthen the national team ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
BFT Secretary General Makole Mashaga said the championships, which attracted boxers from across the country, provided an important platform to assess performance and identify athletes who will form the new national squad.
He said the level of competition was intense from the preliminary stages through to the finals, noting that many bouts were closely contested compared to previous editions where differences in ability were more pronounced.
According to him, even judges faced difficult moments in determining winners in some matches due to the narrow margins, reflecting the high level of preparation and improvement among boxers.
Mashaga said the tournament, which began on April 21, successfully achieved its objectives by 100 percent, particularly in discovering new talent and raising the overall competitiveness of the sport.
He added that within the week, BFT will announce a new national team that will combine experienced boxers with promising young talents who impressed during the championship.
He noted with satisfaction that many young boxers aged between 17 and 23 participated and delivered strong performances, describing them as the foundation of a more competitive future national team.
On the men’s side, Tanzania managed to identify talent across all weight divisions, from the lighter categories to the super heavyweight class, reflecting improved depth in the sport.
However, Mashaga said women’s boxing is still growing and requires more support and participation, despite clear signs of progress and improving standards.
He stressed that the federation’s immediate focus is to build a strong, balanced, and competitive squad capable of representing Tanzania effectively on the international stage, especially at the Commonwealth Games.
Meanwhile, an East African three-star referee from Kenya, Lela Saidi, who officiated in the tournament, praised the performance level of Tanzanian boxers and commended the overall organization of the competition.
She said the bouts were highly competitive and highlighted the commitment shown by the athletes, while also encouraging more women to take up boxing to further strengthen the women’s category.
The championships concluded with outstanding boxers being awarded medals, as BFT now turns its attention to finalizing and preparing the national squad for upcoming international assignments.
