The President of the International Boxing Federation, IBA, Umar Kremlev has said, he believes that Cameroon is a country of boxers.
Umar Kremlev made the statement on February 11 in Yaounde through an interpreter, shortly after arriving in Cameroon. The President of IBA is on a three-day official working visit to Cameroon.
“…It is just to promote training so that many boxers in Cameroon and Africa will have more opportunities to win medals. Actually, I believe that Cameroon is a country of boxers,” Umar Kremlev said.
He added, “Great boxers in the world have their roots in Africa and I believe that in Cameroon, we can start something.”
On his part, Cameroonian-born Bertrand Mendouga, President of the African Boxing Confederation, appreciates the international president’s visit, indicating that during his stay in Cameroon, he will hold high-level meetings to promote boxing. Mendouga has also been President of the Cameroon Boxing Federation for 17 of the past 22 years.
“I am proud and happy to be a Cameroonian because, for the first time, we have the opportunity to receive the President of the International Boxing Federation. And secondly, I am also proud because we will inaugurate the headquarters of the Confederation of African Boxing. After my election, my second goal was to bring this headquarters to Cameroon and that has been done.”
Umar Kremlev will be in Cameroon for three days. He will be received in the audience by senior sports authorities. He will end his visit with the inauguration of the newly acquired African Boxing Confederation Office on February 13 in Yaounde.
By Etienne Mainimo