By Onny Gangata
IT will probably take a long time for the country to produce a fine boxer like Langton ‘School boy’ Tinago.
Polished boxers like him are rare to find nowadays.He was as good as they come, a trendsetter as epitomised by his exploits in the ring.
A three time Commonwealth champion, twice in the lightweight division and a one time super lightweight champion.
Even in death Tinago continued breaking records becoming the first sportsperson to be bestowed hero status, and to be buried at the Midlands provincial heroes acre in his home town of Gweru.
The current generation may not have watched the late pugilist trade punches but stories of his heroics have become folklore in the Midlands capital and continue to inspire the next generation of boxers.
On average around 20 young boxers on a daily basis defy the blazing sun to put in hours of training at Mtapa Community Hall in Gweru.
“I am here everyday with over 20 young boxers from the morning up to the afternoon,” said boxing instructor, Ahmed ‘King uppercut’ Phiri.
“Almost every week, i get new boxers who come here to try and horn their skills,” he added.
Phiri himself, a former boxer in his own right, has devoted his time to passing on the boxing knowledge to the upcoming crop of boxers.
Some of the youngsters who turn out at the rustic facility are as young as ten years old, with the majority ranging between 14 and 18.
“I had the opportunity of having been trained by mudhara School boy when he was still working for the city council, so i am always here to share that knowledge with the young boys,” he said.
Phiri has been a boxing instructor and coach at the Gweru City Council (GCC ) owned facility for more than a decade. Some of his products have gone on to make names for themselves in the local boxing circles.
Liberty Muwani and Patson Mtengwa are some of the names that have turned professional under his tutelage.
“I have trained a number of boxers from Gweru who have turned pro, but their challenge is that once they turn professional, they abandon us here to set base in Harare,” bemoaned Phiri.
“The grass is not always greener, they come back home when things go south for them but we have no choice but to welcome them back.”
Most of the boxing activities are funded by the local authority who mainly cater for amateurs hence the frustration by boxers who turn professional and end up trying their luck elsewhere in search of sponsorship.
Phiri believes there is abundance of talent in Gweru and reckons with funding and proper support there are a number of youngsters who can become household names.
He singled out 15 year old Ronnel Chitengu as one of his brightest prospects.
“The talent is there in abundance from all around the city, unfortunately our budgets only cater for amateurs, it becomes difficult for us to support our guys when they become professionals,” he pointed out.
Chitengu has only had one fight under his belt but Phiri opines that he is destined for the stars. The teenage pugilist’s passion and determination shines out bright during his training sessions.
“I am still far from being a complete boxer, he told The Echo Sports, “The plan really is to learn as much as I can, utilize every training session that I get to improve myself and my colleagues.”
He added: “I have heard of how boxing used to be big here in Mtapa back in the day, my hope is that I can earn a living out of it and make my family and community happy one day.”
A local community member Dougie Mwanza applauded the initiatives by Phiri saying it keeps the teenagers out of mischief.
“Here in Mtapa, a lot goes on, it is good when these teenagers find something that keeps them off the streets. Sport teaches them discipline, which they will need for the rest of their lives because without discipline it is hard to make it in life,” he said.
