Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Hugo Mulenga mourns the death of Zambian wrestling

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Former national heavyweight wrestling champion Hugo Mulenga has bemoaned the “death” of wrestling in Zambia.

Mulenga was one of the pioneers of local wrestling in Zambia during the post-colonial era after abandoning boxing.

The 75-year-old Kitwe-based wrestling icon is calling for the revival of the sport.

“The game is dead. There is no wrestling in Zambia. Wrestling was very popular in Zambia,” Mulenga said.

“It’s up to government to revive the game. No minister of sport has called me to look at how to revive the sport,” he said.

Wrestling has been dormant since the death of Willy “Tiger Boy” Nkandu who attempted to popularise the sport during his peak days.

“We gained independence not for economic reasons alone but even to advance sports. Here in Zambia we only know football. We can look at volleyball, badminton and tennis as well,” Mulenga noted.

He said Zambia has the potential to produce fine wrestlers.

“We could have heavyweight champions from Zambia. These days we have Zambians with huge bodies who can do well in wrestling,” Mulenga said

13 COMMENTS

  1. Greetings, Bamudala ba Hugo Mulenga; It is so nice to hear from you, as you re-ignite our memories of those wonderful days when we used to enjoy watching wrestling in Zambia. The government should hear your call, hopefully, so that this great sport can be revived. Perhaps our politicians can use this opportunity to unite , and socially transfer their anger of getting at each other’s throats towards wrestling in the ring, and happily sharing a Mosi afterwards.

    • Lets just say that those chosen as minister of sports, themselves were not hard sports personnel. If the right persons are chosen the sports could be active all the time.

  2. Same applies to judo, we used to do very well then things changed 10 years ago!
    The ministry of sport should look at sport revival especially in the Copperbelt in those recreational areas that were under ZCCM. Its a disaster what has happened to non majot sports in Zambia, they are completely dead!

  3. Ha, Citizen! Perhaps they should create a Ministry of Wrestling; a Ministry of Judo; Cricket, etc????

  4. The sad thing in Zambia is any mention of “sport” is synonymous to “soccer!” The nation has challenges with engaging the huge reserve of youth into doing something productive with their lives and sport can provide opportunities with its many disciplines only if government paid a bit more attention. Zambian youth like in any other country in the world have varied talents that they can bring out provided facilities! Winding the clock backwards its easy for those that enjoyed the Hugo Mulenga sports era to recall the number of sports disciplines people competed in healthily handed over by the colonialists to the independent Zambian nation! One can say of all sports events at Olympic or Commonwealth Games, Zambia would never have lacked participation! In the US colleges offer scholarships…

  5. contd…. colleges offer scholarships in all sorts of sport disciplines! Isn’t it sad that for example even in swimming those that surface to fly the Zambian flag at international events are only those that have relocated to countries that still offer a broad spectrum of sports disciplines?

  6. I agree with others. Ministry of Sport might as well be called ministry of football. Its good news to learn Hugo is still alive.Perhaps he could also get to the minister to chart the way forward. Am sure he would listen and perhaps source for funding to help start academy before before he goes with his knowledge. It’s not too late.

  7. Ba Hugo, you want the minister to come to you. Why not go to the minister yourself? Its the Boma iyanganepo attitude that has killed the sport. You want Boma to provide sanitary towels as well. Tell you what, it was taboo to talk about the sanitary towel in those days.

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