Tanzania: BFT Awaits Glasgow Report

Makore Mashaga / BFT General Secretary

THE Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT) is waiting for a report from the team that represented the country at the 20th commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland to determine the cause of the lackadaisical performance.

BFT Secretary General Makore, Mashaga told the 'Daily News' yesterday their team will need to give an in-depth explanation over the disappointing results in Scotland.

"I can't state why they performed that way, but we need a technical report when they get back, to know the reasons behind the poor performance in Glasgow," he said.

Makore noted that they expected good results from the boxers as they were well prepared and the country invested a lot in the team.

"Surely, I had great expectations on the boxing team. We trained them from 2009 but they started preparing for the Commonwealth Games since early April last year.

They also had an intensive two-month training abroad sponsored by the government," he said. Makore urged Tanzanians, especially sports lovers, to stay calm and wait until BFT receives the team's report which will evaluate the boxers' performance.

The BFT boss said the unsatisfactory performance in Glasgow has greatly affected the federation's programmes, some of which need to be planned afresh. "We have many programmes, but we have to change some of them following the disappointing results at the Commonwealth Games," he said.

None of the eight boxers who represented the country in Glasgow managed a medal as most of them were eliminated in the preliminary rounds and just a few cruised into the Round of 16 but failed to advance to the quarterfinals.

Apart from boxing, Team Tanzania, which also comprises athletics, cycling, judo, table tennis and swimming, has failed to impress in the ongoing Commonwealth Games, which wind up on Sunday.

A good number of Tanzanians, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Bernard Membe, have raised concern over the team's poor performance.

Membe, whose ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports sent Team Tanzania abroad for training under the 'Sports Diplomacy' programme, said he is unimpressed by the poor performance.

"It's very disappointing that none of our athletes has managed to win a medal at the Glasgow Games," he was quoted as saying. Through 'Sports Diplomacy' almost 45 athletes received training in China, Ethiopia, New Zealand and Turkey.

SOURCE: alafrca.com