Desert Storm champions remain undefeated

LEANDREA LOUW



Delano Müller and Lesley !Hoaëb retained their Sub-Saharan champion status in the featherweight and lightweight divisions during Desert Storm III.

Fifteen-year-old Müller made history in June when he became the first Namibian to win a world title belt in the featherweight division in the USA.

Müller knocked out his opponent, Kyain Mupachike from Zimbabwe, at the start of the first round, while !Hoaëb knocked out Stanford Gopole from Zimbabwe at the start of the second round.

“It was a very short match but I am happy I retained the title. My next move is to train harder and I am already looking forward to the next Desert Storm,” Müller said.

!Hoaëb said he was very happy because he had been training hard, four hours a day, to be crowned as champion.

“I am training now for a boxing competition slated for 6 November at the Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre,” he said.

In the pre-fights leading up to the main Sub-Saharan title fights, Advent Monyatsiwa from Botswana defeated Michael Smit from Namibia in a kickboxing match.

In full-contact fights, Henrique Aramburu from Brazil was the champion, defeating Bruce Gumbo from Zimbabwe. Adrian Mathews from South Africa defeated Walter Chiteto from Zimbabwe and David Damon from South Africa defeated Alex Ilukena from Zambia.

Oyitse Modukane from Botswana and Gregson Maluma from Zambia were crowned the winners after their opponents withdrew.

In three more full-contact fights, Freddie van Wyk from Namibia defeated Sean Keatholetswe from Botswana, Martin Nandu from Namibia defeated Gilbert Ndlovu from Zambia and Francois de Wet from South Africa beat Oliver Becker-Stauder.

In the Desert Storm title fights, Pauo Nunes from Angola was victorious, defeating Order Tsuma from Zimbabwe in a Muay Thai fight.

In a kickboxing fight Abreu Francisco from Angola defeated Norbeit Baziyoni from Zimbabwe.

In a full-contact Sub-Saharan title fight, Knowledge Nyamholu from Zimbabwe defeated David Mokoena from South Africa.

The tournament started on Friday and continued late into the night on Saturday.

Anita De Klerk, president of the Namibia Kickboxing Federation (NKF), said as a national body registered with the Namibian Sports Commission, the NKF uses Desert Storm as national trials for Namibian athletes to attend international events and world championships.

Fighters hailed from Brazil, Germany, Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Brazil, South Africa, Swaziland and Namibia.

The tournament was sanctioned by the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO AU) Region 5 Kickboxing Confederation.

SASCOC (South African Sports Commission and Olympic Committee) President Gideon Sam, World President of RCFAI (Ring Contact Fighting Arts International) Master Joe Viljoen, WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organisations) Region 5 President Shihan Aslam Mahomed, Namibian Sports Commission representatives Junias Hamalua, Ndeshi Negonya, Martha Shigwedha and Wedolina Nailonga attended the event, while South African singer, actor and songwriter Brendt Wayne de Wet welcomed Lesley and Delano into the ring with his brand new single ‘Never give Up’.