THROWING GOOD PUNCHES IS NOT ENOUGH, BOXERS SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED

Martin Hagler Photo by Getty Images.

Boxing is often associated with violence but in essence it is a sport that is not just entertaining but eccentric.

The perception of people towards the sport is that it is enjoyed and practiced by those who are trouble makers in society.

However, this notion has been defeated as the sport is practiced by men and women who are highly disciplined.

"Discipline is the cornerstone not only in boxing but in other sports too," observes Bright Chomba, who is the Secretary General of the Zambia Amateur Boxing Federation (ZBF).

Chomba says without discipline it is difficult for one to succeed in the sport adding that it is important for boxers to build their boxing credentials.

Catherine Phiri Photo by Daily Mail.

Chomba cites Zambian boxer Catherine Phiri as a good example of a disciplined boxer who has managed to overcome odds in the sport and succeed.

Kennedy Mubita, president of the Zambia Amateur Boxing Federation notes that many sports men and women who are talented have failed to succeed in the sport owing to a poor discipline record.

"We have seen boxers who started very well but due to lack of discipline they lost focus in their way," he said.

Most boxers tend to lose focus when they become champions and this affects their careers, Chomba added.

What is discipline?

The English Oxford Dictionary defines discipline as a set of rules that controls the behaviour of human beings.

The Secretary General of ZBF defines discipline as the moral conduct that a person exhibits towards what they do.

This means that discipline in the sport of boxing should not only be seen to be done in the ring but it should be further extended to activities outside the ring as well.

How to maintain discipline both inside and outside the ring?

A fighter who trains hard is on the road to having the discipline needed to be successful in the ring.

However, training hard is not enough. A boxer should extend good conduct outside the ring as this is essential in succeeding.

This means that one has to watch what they eat, drink, who they mingle with and carefully get enough sleep.

"Being disciplined means that a boxer should carefully watch who is surrounding them, the food they eat and be able to maintain good health," says Mubita.

Discipline further means staying out of trouble when you are not in the ring or training.

Marvin Hagler was one of the greatest fighters of the 1970s and 80's, and despite his muscular build and powerful punching, he was not a world-class athlete like some of the opponents he faced.

He made up for that by training hard and having the discipline to get the most out of his ability

(You can access further reading www.sweetscience.com).

Benefits of discipline in boxing?

Boxing is a two man sports game meaning only two people can participate in the game at a goal.

In as much as it is a two man sports game, it requires several people in the background to help a boxer win a single fight.

Among these people are the coaches, sponsors and most importantly the fans that play a key role not only in contributing revenue through gate fees but through their cheering which boosts the moral and confidence.

However, in order to maintain a good relationship with the aforementioned stakeholders, a good discipline record is essential.

“People from the corporate world only fund boxers with a good character blended with discipline,” said Chomba.

"A good character can make boxers brand ambassadors for the corporate world and this can earn them a lot of money," he added.

Muhammad Ali Photo by Getty Images

In conclusion, boxers are role models to young people especially in societies and it is therefore important that they maintain high levels of discipline. Remember that lack of discipline is like a spirit without a soul. For the Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7: "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

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 Sources

Kennedy Mubita is the President of the Zambia Amateur Boxing Federation (ZBF).

Brighton Chomba is the Secretary General of the Zambia Amateur Boxing Federation (ZBF).

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CREDITS

Story written by: Esnart Chikobeli

Edited by: Barnabas Zulu, Sherry Chabala, Valerie Banda and Ireen Watema

Photos sourced by: Susan Ngoma

PostedDarlingtone Kabambe

ZAMBIAN SHE-SWIMMING OFFICIAL LEAVES FOR HUNGARY

                    THE STORY OF RENNIE - SWIMMMER

From the left is Dionne Rennie and on the right is Zambia Amature Swimming Union (ZASU) president Guy Phiri exhibiting their award - Picture courtesy of Sherry Chabala

ZAMBIA Amateur Swimming Union (ZASU) member coach Dionne Rennie has left for Hungary, Budapest to attend a three months training course in sports science organized by the Singapore National Olympics Council in collaboration with the International Olympics Committee (IOC) and the Republic Polytechnics.

Confirming the development in Lusaka yesterday, ZASU Vice president, Adewale Grillo expressed gratitude to the National Olympics Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) for selecting Rennie to be one of the trainers for the Budapest swimming team, representing the country.

"We wish Rennie all the best and look forward  to her to exploit all the skills and knowledge on the international front of the sport and come to share her experiences with Zambian swimmers on her return," he said.

The three months Hungary sponsorship trail in sports is expected to deliver knowledge and competencies to sports men and women drawn from different sports disciplines.

Mr Grillo said the course will also enhance the competencies of executives for the planning and delivery of various disciplines of sport programmes in schools, communities and commercial sporting undertakings.

Meanwhile, Rennie has thanked NOCZ for according her what she described as a 'one time life opportunity' and has since pledged to work hard for the nation.

"I am really grateful to the National Olympics Committee for according me this rare opportunity. I can say that it is now a dream come true and am really looking forward to learning something from the course and further network with other sports men and women," she said.

She urged young people to develop interest in sports as it is an essential aspect to stride for their wellbeing and enables many youths to avoid being engaged in illicit activities that would put themselves in conflict with the law.

"My encouragement to young people is that they should always pursue their dreams for future development that would enhance their well-being and develop interest in various sporting disciplines. This is a key to the wellbeing as human beings," she said.

Rennie further appealed to government to construct many sports infrastructure and other recreation facilities in the country to foster the development of sports in the country.

The trainer urged government to build more sports infrastructure in the country contending that the current infrastructure is inadequate for the many youth to participate in sporting activities, especially those in the rural peripheral.

From the left is Dionne Rennie and on the right is Zambia Amature Swimming Union (ZASU) president Guy Phiri exhibiting their award - Picture courtesy of Sherry Chabala

She called on tertiary institutions country-wide to embrace the introduction of  faculties that focuses on sporting training of both sexes in order to put the country on sporting circumferences on the world map and implored all the relevant authorities in charge of various sporting disciplines in Zambia to come up with deliberate policies that would encourage many youths to acquire different sporting talents.

She said the involvement of many youths in sporting activities such as swimming will enable the country to harness and receive more medals at international and local competitive levels.

“Time is now that interested sports men and women changed their focus on football as the only sporting event in the country. Swimming is also one of the interesting sport that is not yet known to many sportsmen in the country,” said Rennie.

The coach said swimming has been practiced in the country for a long time now and it became prominent after swimmer Theach Xoxo competed on the ninety days swimming pool at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in 2013.

Last year, the Zambian swimming team won the CANA Zone 1V swimming gala, beating South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania. Remmie, becomes the first Zambian swimmers trainer to be posted overseas for a job training career after being selected from the coach swimmers which was held in 2013 to get a local trainers to attend a three months training course in the same discipline, in Budapest, Hungary.

Barnabas Zulu  - Story writer

Darlingtone Kabambe  - Editor

Sherry Chabala and Ireen Watema - Pictures

Susan Ngoma, Valerie Banda and Esnart Chikobeli - Sources