2nd African Olympic Qualifier-Windhoek, Namibia - Mar 23-30

[emile]

If the AIBA site doesn't get back up, this might be hard to follow. Namibia does have a pretty good national press, so hopefully they will cover it.

There are still quite a few places left for African qualification. Since the North Africans ran roughshod over the first qualifier, this will hopefully mean some of the sub-Saharan countries can clinch places. Especially missing so far are fighters from some of the historically top-notch African countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya.

I'm also hoping the contingent from Mauritius shows up. Their fighter Bruno Julie gave Joseph Murray a great fight in Chicago and was unlucky to lose.

Places at stake:
48kg - 3, 51kg - 3, 54kg - 3, 57kg - 3, 60kg - 3, 64kg - 3, 69kg - 3, 75kg - 2, 81kg - 3, 91kg - 1, 91+kg - 2

[emile]

Yesterday, the field was winnowed to 8 in several weight classes. I'm assuming that the order of the names matches the brackets:

51kg - Thomas Asina (Kenya), Johannes Simon (Namibia), Ludovic Bactora (Mauritius), Michael Anu (Nigeria), Sifiso Mkhonta (Swaziland), Jackson Chauke (South Africa), Elie Randrianjanaka (Madagascar), Cassius Chiyanakab (Zambia)

54kg - Thomas Kasina (Kenya - ?), Issah Samir (Ghana), Joseph Mhlongo (South Africa), Muzei Aldina (Uganda), Marolahy Robuste (Madagascar), Emiliani Polino (Tanzania), Bruno Julie (Mauritius), Brian Mwabu (Zambia)

57kg - Bendit Makangila-Vela (DR Congo), Thato Batshegi (Botswana), Thokozane Masuku (Swaziland), Ashley Dlamini (South Africa), Anang Ampiah (Ghana - ?), Joseph Dranie Rafiou (Togo), Nicholas Okoth (Kenya), Prince Leo Nwoye (Nigeria)

60kg - Julius Indongo (Namibia), Ghislain Maduma (DR Congo), Rasheed Lawal (Nigeria), Joseph Njogu Ndungu (Kenya), Jean de Dieu Soloniaina (Madagascar), Petro Mtangwa (Tanzania), Yasin Gaberyasin (Egypt), Frederick Lawson (Ghana)

64kg - Rayton Okwiri (Kenya), Mahaman Smaila (Cameroon), Colin Richarno (Mauritius), Rugen Miyenikoue (Gabon), Samuel Kotey (Ghana), Sibonelo Ndzimande (Swaziland), Goodman Zanempi (South Africa), Chimwemwe Chiotcha (Malawi)

[emile]

Additionally, there are four sets of quarterfinals planned for today. Winners are guaranteed at least a place in the box-off.

48kg - Hamoud Boubraouet (Algeria) vs Redouane Bouchtouk (Morocco); Ronald Serugo (Uganda) vs Tresford Kaziwa (Zambia); Bathusi Mogajane (Botswana) vs Thomas Essomba (Cameroon); Natnael Getenet Werku (Ethiopia) vs Lebogang Pilane (South Africa)

54kg - as above

69kg - Mehdi Khalsi (Morocco) vs Alvin Gabriel (Seychelles); Precious Makina (Zambia) vs Nickson Abaka (Kenya); Rached Merdessi (Tunisia) vs Mejandjae Kasuto (Namibia); Come Ndayishimiye (Burundi) vs Johnny Koen (South Africa)

81kg - Dauda Izobo (Nigeria) vs Burnaro Ashenate (Ethiopia); Sydney Mulenga (Zambia) vs Bastie Samir (Ghana); Zouhair Boustane (Morocco) vs Christian Adjoufack (Cameroon); Unathi Jacobs (South Africa) vs Aziz Ali (Kenya)

[jtyson]

Since the North Africans ran roughshod over the first qualifier, this will hopefully mean some of the sub-Saharan countries can clinch places. Especially missing so far are fighters from some of the historically top-notch African countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya.

Yea I notice all thos powerhouse African squads were missing as well. But most of those squads didnt sent any athletes to the first one, and if they did not complete teams. of the North African teams in the Saharan region (Algeria, Tunsia, Morroco Egypt, etc..), there is only 12 total boxers of the 148 total. So I think a lot of the teams just wanted it out til this qualifer to get everybody in

[emile]

They had their sadly typical problems with money and I doubt that most of the countries could afford to send fighters to both qualifiers. There is at least a perception that the judging in North Africa would not be fair, so I'm sure it made more sense to wait until this one, although several countries were still having lots of problems getting money to send even a small delegation to Namibia. Senegal, for example, didn't send anyone to this qualifier, even though they have a couple of fighters who might have had a decent shot of making the Games.

It's a shame how many potentially outstanding fighters have been lost to time because of a lack of money, coaching, facilities, and organization.

[jtyson]

yea it truly is a shame... The WBC on the other hand, no matter what anybody says about them, is doing the right thing. They are building a boxing school in memory of Lotte Mwale. ( http://www.lusakatimes.com/?p=2242 )

Also, the AIBA is going to begin building Boxing Academies all over the world ( http://www.aiba.org/documents/site1/Aca ... cademy.pdf ). There are some pictures in there that look real cool and seems like a great idea to help develop boxing more throughly

[emile]

One interesting note - Ghislain Maduma, who is in the final eight at 60kg, is from Quebec. So Canada might possibly get more spots in the Olympics than they thought. Maduma just barely lost to Arash Usmanee at the 2007 Canadian Championships at 57kg.

[emile]

Hey, full draw sheets are up now, as are today's results and tomorrow's quarterfinal schedule.

48kg
Redouane Bouchtouk (MOR) d Hamoud Boubraouet (ALG) 15-14
Ronald Serugo (UGA) d Tresford Kaziwa (ZAM) 11-3
Thomas Essomba (CAM) d Bathusi Mogajane (BOT) 10-7
Lebogang Pilane (RSA) d Natnael Getenet Werku (ETH) 7-1

54kg
Issah Samir (GHA) d Thomas Kasina (KEN) 6-3
Muzei Aldina (UGA) d Joseph Mhlongo (RSA) 8-1
Emiliani Polino (TAN) d Marolahy Robuste (MAD) 19-4
Bruno Julie (MRI) d Brian Mwabu (ZAM) 9-1

69kg
Mehdi Kalsi (MOR) d Alvin Gabriel (SEY) 11-3
Nickson Abaka (KEN) d Precious Makina (ZAM) 9-3
Mejandjae Kasuto (NAM) d Rached Merdessi (TUN) 6-3
Johnny Koen (RSA) d Come Ndayishimiye (BUR) RSCH1

81kg
Dauda Izobo (NGR) d Burnaro Ashenate (ETH) KO1
Bastie Samir (GHA) d Sydney Mulenga (ZAM) KO1
Christian Adjoufack (CAM) d Zouhair Boustane (MOR) 14-7
Aziz Ali (KEN) d Unathi Jacobs (RSA) 11-8


Tomorrow's schedule:

51kg - as above
57kg - as above
60kg - as above
64kg - as above

75kg - Leonard Machichi (Tanzania) vs David Opiyo (Kenya); Christophe Ngveliega (Cameroon) vs Herry Saliku Biembe (DR Congo); Masana Manganyi (South Africa) vs Badou Jack (The Gambia); Davy Lendjougou (Gabon) vs Ekele Danuloko (Nigeria)

[I'm assuming that the Badou Jack is the experienced amateur who formerly fought for Sweden]

others

91kg semifinals
Tobias Munihango (Namibia) vs Olanrewaju Durodola (Nigeria); Agbonson Yaovi (Togo) vs Stany Mboto (DR Congo)

91+kg semifinals
Tresford Kaziwa (Kenya - wrong name obviously) vs Onorede Ehwareme (Nigeria); Mohamed Amanissi (Morocco) vs Patrick Mavoungou (Gabon)

[emile]

Great news from Windhoek today. My favorite amateur boxer Prince Octopus Dzanie, who had been misnamed earlier, won to advance to the semis at 57kg.


51kg
Bernard Ngumba (Kenya) d Johannes Simon (Namibia) 12-4
Michael Anu (Nigeria) d Ludovic Bactora (Mauritius) 9-3
Jackson Chauke (South Africa) d Sifiso Mkhonta (Swaziland) RSCI3
Cassius Chinyanakab (Zambia) d Elie Randrianjanaka (Madagascar) 14-9

57kg
Thato Batshegi (Botswana) d Bendit Makangila-Vela (DR Congo) 10-5
Ashley Dlamini (South Africa) d Thokozane Masuku (Swaziland) 8-2
Prince Octopus Dzanie (Ghana) d Joseph Dranie Rafiou (Togo) 11-4
Nicholas Okoth (Kenya) d Prince Leo Nwoye (Nigeria) 5-2

60kg
Julius Indongo (Namibia) d Ghislain Maduma (DR Congo) 4-0
Rasheed Lawal (Nigeria) d Joseph Njogu Ndungu (Kenya) 9-5
Jean de Dieu Soloniaina (Madagascar) d Petro Mtangwa (Tanzania) 9-2
Achille Apie (Cameroon) d Frederick Lawson (Ghana) 8-3

64kg
Mahaman Smaila (Cameroon) d Rayton Okwiri (Kenya) 16-6
Colin Richarno (Mauritius) d Rugen Miyenikoue (Gabon) RSCH3
Samuel Kotey (Ghana) d Sibonelo Ndzimande (Swaziland) 9-1
Goodman Zanempi (South Africa) d Chimwemwe Chiotcha (Malawi) RSCH4

75kg
Leonard Machichi (Tanzania) d David Opiyo (Kenya) 7-5
Herry Saliku Biembe (DR Congo) d Christophe Ngveliega (Cameroon) 11-3
Badou Jack (The Gambia) d Masana Manganyi (South Africa) RET3
Ekele Danuloko (Nigeria) d Davy Lendjougou (Gabon) 6-0

[therealPunchDrunk]

It is indeed the Swedish Badou Jack, competing for Gambia. I guess he felt that qualifying would be "easier" through Africa, than through Europe. He has also dropped back down to 75kg, having fought at 81kg for the past couple of years.

Interestingly, Sweden had Naim Terbunja qualify at 75kg already. :)

[jtyson]

It is indeed the Swedish Badou Jack, competing for Gambia. I guess he felt that qualifying would be "easier" through Africa, than through Europe. He has also dropped back down to 75kg, having fought at 81kg for the past couple of years.

Interestingly, Sweden had Naim Terbunja qualify at 75kg already. :)

what i wanna know is.. where the hell is KENNEDY KATENDE! not fighting for Sweden OR his home country in Africa

[locoxelbox]

Kennedy Katende broke his arm while training in England but will be back for the last qualifier.

[jtyson]

Kennedy Katende broke his arm while training in England but will be back for the last qualifier.

Ok sounds good... I didnt want him to miss his oppurtunity for the Olympics.. he is very talented

[therealPunchDrunk]

Yeas Katende is a good fighter. He's evolved a lot over the last couple of years. Too bad about his arm. I just read that he's been sparring with Naim Terbunja, and he should be ready for the final Euro qualifier.

Looking at this youtube vid of a fight between Terunja and Katende, it seems quite weird that Katende is 81kg and Terbunja is 75kg, as Terbunja is much bigger...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy5XC7tm ... re=related

[emile]

Congratulations to all yesterday's winners and Olympic qualifiers (except at 91kg, with only one place available).

48kg
Redouane Bouchtouk (MOR) d Ronald Serugo (UGA) 11-0
Thomas Essomba (CAM) d Lebogang Pilane (RSA) 12-3

51kg
Bernard Ngumba (KEN) d Michael Anu (NGR) 6-5
Cassius Chinyanakab (ZAM) d Jackson Chauke (RSA) 6-5

54kg
Issah Samir (GHA) d Muzei Aldina (UGA) 11-5
Bruno Julie (MRI) d Emiliani Polino (TAN) 6-2

57kg
Thato Batshegi (BOT) d Ashley Dlamini (RSA) 7-2
Nicholas Okoth (KEN) d Prince Octopus Dzanie (GHA) 6-2

60kg
Rasheed Lawal (NGR) d Julius Indongo (NAM) 4-1
Jean de Dieu Solonaiaina (MAD) d Achille Apie (CAM) 3-2

64kg
Colin Richarno (MRI) d Mahaman Smaila (CAM) 9-4
Samuel Kotey (GHA) d Cimwemwe Chiotcha (MAL) 6-3

69kg
Nickson Abaka (KEN) d Mehdi Khalsi (MOR) 5-4
Mejandjae Kasuto (NAM) d Johnny Koen (RSA) RET2

75kg
Herry Saliku Biembe (DRC) d Leonard Machichi (TAN) 12-1
Badou Jack (GAM) d Ekele Danuloko (NGR) 7-0

81kg
Bastie Samir (GHA) d Dauda Izobo (NGR) 10-4
Aziz Ali (KEN) d Christian Adjoufack (CAM) RET4

91kg
Olanrewaju Durodola (NGR) d Tobias Munihango (NAM) 8-0
Agbonson Yaovi (TOG) d Stany Mboto (DRC) 6-4

91+kg
Onorede Ehwareme (NGR) d Morris Okola (KEN) 6-5
Mohamed Amanissi (MOR) d Patrick Mavoungou (GAB) 14-5

[emile]

Third place box-off winners

48kg - Ronald Serugo (Uganda)
51kg - Jackson Chauke (South Africa)
54kg - Emiliani Polino (Tanzania)
57kg - Prince Octopus Dzanie (Ghana)
60kg - Julius Indongo (Namibia)
64kg - Mahaman Smaila (Cameroon)
69kg - Mehdi Khalsi (Morocco)
75kg - none
81kg - Dauda Izobo (Nigeria)


91kg final (one place) Olanrewaju Durodola (Nigeria) d Agbonson Yaovi (Togo) 5-5+