Following a spate of defeats which Malawian boxers have suffered on the international scene, some boxing analysts have questioned Zimbabwean trainer, Clyde Musonda’s credentials.
Most boxers that travel to foreign countries under the tutelage of Musonda lose.
However, Musonda has hit back at the critics, saying they are jealous.
Last week, Musonda travelled with Crispin Moliyati, Chikondi Makawa, Limbani Masamba and Charles Misanjo to Namibia for title and non-title fights. All the boxers lost.
Musonda was also at Mussa Ajibu’s corner when he lost to Nigerian Olanreweaju Duirodola during a recent 12-round World Boxing Organisation-Africa cruiserweight title in Ghana.
Boxing analyst, Steve Msiska, said local trainers can do better than the Zimbabwean.
“According to my research, 95 percent of boxers that have travelled with him have lost. Yet we have good trainers such as Leonard Metazama and Badista Mbalaka,” he said.
“He is in business and not promoting our boxers. Let him play the role of a matchmaker and not a trainer. For easy communication and easy understanding, we need a local trainer to be at the corner of our boxers. The sheep knows the voice of its shepherd, hence imposing a coach on a boxer at the 11th hour will continue to bring these catastrophic results,” he said.
A trainer, who refused to be named, said the spate of defeats were a wake-up call to Malawian stables.
“Surely, the rate at which our boxers are suffering defeats is very scaring. Due to their poor records, very soon these boxers will no longer be marketable,” he said.
However, Musonda said he had tried his best to promote Malawian boxers on the international scene.
“I have done enough for Malawi boxers. I did my best working with Craig [Rousseau-of No Pain No Gain Boxing Promotions]. We managed to take three boxers to WBO and one IBF [International Boxing Organisation] title fights but the boxers failed to grab any of those titles. Professional boxing is different from amateur boxing. In professional boxing, it is a business,” he said.
Musonda alleged that some boxers, managers, trainers and promoters were not happy with him because he does not pick pugilists from their stables.
Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board spokesperson, Frank Chibisa, said there was need to analyse the issue thoroughly and quickly.
“Most of the results under his [Musonda] guidance have left a lot to be desired. But that does not mean that he is bad. As a stable and stakeholders, they need to analyse the issue to see where they are missing the point,” Chibisa said.
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