ZAMBIA SHINES AT THE 2024 MIXED MARTIAL ARTS AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

By Scoop Reporter

ZAMBIA participated at the just-ended 2024 Mixed Martial Arts African Championships held in Windhoek, Namibia where the country reaped five medals, which include Gold.

Here is how Zambian players featured:

Gold Medallist: Gilbert Ndlovu (Middleweight Division)

Gilbert Ndlovu delivered an outstanding performance in the middleweight division, bringing home a historic gold medal for Zambia. In the semi-finals, Gilbert faced a top-seeded Egyptian opponent, and proceeded to dominate him in all areas. This victory set the stage for an intense final against an Angolan fighter Grecio Lopes.

Grecio approached the fight primarily as a grappler but with heavy hands in the boxing realm. Gilbert’s relentless counter wrestling, dirty boxing, power and determination led to a TKO victory, retiring his opponent on the stool between rounds 2 and 3. Gilbert’s triumph allowed us to hear the Zambian national anthem as his hand was raised in victory, marking a historic moment for MMA Zambia.

Silver Medallist: Miracle Chipito (women’s Flyweight Category)

Our female athlete, Miracle Chipito, put up a valiant fight in the finals, battling a highly skilled opponent in Angolan Esperança Pereira. Although the consensus among spectators was that Miracle out struck Pereira and landed the more damaging shots, the judges’ decision went against the feelings of the memorial, forcing Miracle to have to settle for silver. Her performance was commendable, showcasing her tenacity and skill.

 Silver Medallist: Abraham Banda (Bantamweight Division)

Abraham Banda showcased incredible poise, craftsmanship, and skill throughout the semi-finals, winning with ease. However, in the finals, he faced Sisa Jungula from South Africa, a seasoned wrestler.

Abraham almost did not fight due to an injury incurred in camp whilst in Windhoek. He started the bout well with his trademark crisp striking and footwork, however Sisa secured a takedown late in the first and managed to submit Abraham by RNC, resulting in a silver medal. Despite this setback, Abraham’s journey to the finals was marked by exceptional performance and resilience.

Bronze Medallist: Killian Lungu (Lightweight Category)

Killian Lungu’s opening fight was against the very dangerous South African Iviwe Mpathsiwa. This was a hard fight that Killian won in all areas showing his outstanding ability to mix it up between striking and wrestling. He progressed to the semi-finals where he was set to face the tournament favourite Jeremie Likobele from Congo. His journey was unfortunately cut short before this semi-final bout due to a backstage injury. Jeremie Likobele would go on to win gold for Congo leaving Killian to take bronze for Zambia.

Bronze Medallist: Mutinta Mweene (Featherweight Division)

Originally set to compete in the bantamweight division, Mutinta Mweene’s opponent moved out of the bracket, leaving her without a match. She courageously decided to move up to the featherweight division, despite being significantly outweighed by her opponents. Mutinta would ultimately face Demi-Shay Thomas from South Africa in a war of attrition. She battled through adversity fending off a very tight armbar, and with a strong display of heart and determination earned herself a well-deserved bronze medal.

Performances of note: Daniel Muleba (Flyweight Category)

Daniel Muleba delivered a standout performance against his Angolan opponent Mafuana Mbungo, dominating the fight and outclassing his opponent in all areas. Despite winning all three rounds, the judges’ decision inexplicably went against him leaving him unable to progress to the semi-finals. Daniel’s performance was one of the best showings of the tournament, and he is undoubtedly an athlete to watch in the future.

Other Notables:

Jarcel Chimbwe, Phillimon Banda, Kings Chilemu and Portus Chama fought whilst battling a strong flu that swept through the camp. Their resilience in the face of illness was commendable. We know had we had time to acclimatize the team would have delivered even more gold medals.

– Bernard Chisenga had to overcome a large weight disparity, yet he still showed a warrior’s heart and stepped forth into the cage.

Zambia – a major force with officiating

Malachy McAllister has quickly become one of the most active referees on the continental IMMAF circuit. During the event, Malachy refereed and judged tens of fights every day, ensuring the safety of athletes and the integrity of the sport. He was supported by a team of Zambian officials that included Shihan Simba and Copperbelt’s Ndundu.

In summary, despite numerous challenges, including a flu outbreak among the athletes, the Zambian team displayed incredible heart, determination, and skill. The issues encountered with transport, the timely release of funds, accommodation and nutrition, along with acclimatization certainly played their part. However, for Zambia to sit 4th on the leaderboard given all the above is a testament to the talent the country is endowed with and the determination of all to maximize any possibilities on the ground.