GABON - BOXING OLYMPICS 2012: Gabon will have two boxers representing the country at the upcoming Olympic Games, a move that boxers in the country hope will encourage the government to invest more in the sport.

Record ID: 331103

  • Title: GABON - BOXING OLYMPICS 2012: Gabon will have two boxers representing the country at the upcoming Olympic Games, a move that boxers in the country hope will encourage the government to invest more in the sport.
  • Date: 29th June 2012
  • Summary: LIBREVILLE, GABON (JUNE 28, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BOXERS, ROMEO LEMBOUMBA (IN WHITE) AND YANNICK MITOUMBA MBEMI (IN BLUE) TRAINING VARIOUS OF MBEMI TRAINING WITH HIS COACH, DIEUDONNE MEFAGHE MORE OF BOXER TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (French) DIEUDONNE MEFAGHE, BOXING COACH SAYING: "I have been telling them for a while now that what we do here has also been done elsewhere. there are no differences, except for the lack equipment, but we can manage without. They need to know that other people also have two fists, two feet just like them and nothing can come in our way." MEFAGHE SPARRING WITH MBEMI AND LEMBOUMBA MEFAGHE TRAINING WITH LEMBOUMBA (SOUNDBITE) (French) YANNICK MITOUMBA MBEMI, BOXER SAYING: "I am mentally ready, but I also worry sometimes. We are getting closer to the competition, and we are still training. At this point, we should be benefiting from higher levels of training. We are preparing for the Olympic Games, it's not just a regional or an African Championship." MEFAGHE LOOKING AT HIS WATCH DURING TRAINING MBEMI, LEMBOUMBA AND THEIR COACH LEAVING BEACH AFTER TRAINING EXTERIOR OF GABON BOXING FEDERATION SIGN IN FRENCH READING "GABON BOXING FEDERATION" VARIOUS OF MBEMI AND LEMBOUMBA TRAINING WITH THEIR COACH AND OTHER BOXERS
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Gabon
  • Country: Gabon
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABHJ9SIDWNSKOFQRJEA6IIDR6
  • Story Text: For the first time in 10 years, Gabon will have two boxers representing the country at this year's Olympic Games, after Romeo Lemboumba and Yannick Mitumba Mbemi managed to qualify.
    The two boxers are going through their paces at the beach in Libreville -- looking out at the Atlantic Ocean with their coach Dieudonne Mefagheon.
    Thirty two-year-old, Romeo Lemboumba (wearing a white t-shirt) who will be competing in the 56 kg category, and Yannick Mitoumba Mbemi (in a blue T-shirt) secured their Olympic bid at the African Olympic qualifiers recently held in Casablanca, Morocco and organised by the International Association of Amateur boxing (AIBA).
    Although many in Gabon rejoiced on having two boxers represent the country at the summer Games, Lemboumba and Mbemi say their journey to qualify was a difficult one.
    They decry the lack of support from the government and say that professional boxers in the country do not have proper facilities to train.
    Boxing coach, Dieudonne Mefaghe says he encourages his team to look beyond the poor conditions and focus on competing at the highest levels of the sport.
    "I have been telling them for a while now that what we do here has also been done elsewhere. There are no differences, except for the lack equipment, but we can manage without. They need to know that other people also have two fists, two feet just like them and nothing can come in our way," he said.
    Twenty five-year-old Mbemi will be competing in the 69 kg category.
    "I am mentally ready, but I also worry sometimes. We are getting closer to the competition, and we are still training. At this point, we should be benefiting from higher levels of training. We are preparing for the Olympic Games, it's not just a regional or an African Championship," he said.
    Mbemi and Lemboumba also train with other boxers at Gabon's Boxing Federation headquarters in the capital. They say this is the country's only qualified boxing training gym.
    Gabon's government pledged to donate 20 million CFA francs (37,000 USD) to the boxers as they train ahead of the Olympics but Mbemi and Lemboumba say they have yet to receive the money.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Video restrictions: parts of this video may require additional clearances. Please see ‘Business Notes’ for more information.
Register