Representatives of about 40 African countries took part in the AIBA Virtual Forum, which was held on February 7 and opened a series of continental events of the year.
Within the framework of the Forum, AIBA President Mr. Umar Kremlev has visited Kenya, where he has already met the country’s sports leadership and the National Boxing Federation on Saturday.
On Sunday during the Forum, the AIBA leadership and the National Federations of the continent discussed a number of key issues, including reforms, new AIBA Committees and the competition calendar, a development plan for National Federations, a Communication strategy, a report from the legal group, and took part in the Q&A sessions; they also held an anti-doping seminar with the ITA’s Head of Testing, Mr. Matteo Vallini.
‘I am very pleased that the pandemic situation allowed me to come to Kenya to see the development of boxing in the country and on the continent. This is my first, but far from the last, visit to Africa. I was very glad to see all National Federations via video conference, and I must say we have done a fruitful work. It is very important for me to receive feedback from all AIBA members, to get their proposals for reforms. Only together, being united, can we achieve the tasks set,’ Kremlev said.
He also noted that he sees great potential in the development of African boxing.
"I trained with national team’s athletes, talked with the President of the Kenyan Boxing Federation, with the Ministry of Sports representatives. I gained a deeper understanding of the problems and challenges that African sport is facing, particularly in Kenya. We will develop an effective program for every continent to help athletes show their best results. I am sure there will be many champions in Africa in the near future,’ said the AIBA President, adding that the first Boxing Academy on the continent will be built in Kenya.
The head of the African Boxing Confederation (AFBC), Dr. Mohamed Moustahsane, thanked Mr. Kremlev for the efforts he is making to develop sports on the continent.
‘Thank you for recognizing African boxing as one of the main actors in our sport. I’m sure this is our first, but not last visit to Nairobi. We will return to reaffirm that all the efforts of the President of AIBA are not just words, but concrete actions. We will work together, hand in hand, to support African National Federations. I am confident that African boxers will be proud of us all,’ Moustahsane said.
Kenyan Boxing Federation President Mr. Anthony Otieno Ombok stressed that the construction of the Boxing Academy will be a big event for the country.
‘Kenya is grateful to Umar Kremlev for his visit, which is historic since it is the first time ever that an AIBA President has visited an African country, and for the fact that he is going to build a Boxing Academy in our country, which again will be the first on the continent. Today we examined the area for the future boxing gym. A blueprint for the structure and the bill of quantities will be prepared by experts and once the plans get an approval from our colleagues from AIBA, the development of boxing in the country will be kick started and there will be no stopping, until we are the best in the continent and be challenging the big nations in the world of boxing,’ Mr. Ombok said.
The Forum was also attended by the President of the Uganda Boxing Federation, Mr. Muhangi Moses.
"For all African boxing, the visit of the President of AIBA to the continent is a new page in our history. We met in Nairobi with Umar Kremlev and discussed ways to develop boxing in Uganda and Africa at large. We agreed that he will visit our country this April for a working meeting,’ said the head of the Ugandan Boxing Federation.
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