It was at Dar es Salaam Airport in 1977, when the Tanzania National Boxing Team was returning from a competition in Ethiopia, having arrived home with honor around their necks.
In the top row stands Titus Simba (fifth from the left at the back), the National Heavyweight Champion, a boxer whose fists were a weapon of the nation. When this photo was taken, it was not known that this would be his last journey representing Tanzania on international stages. The late Simba left us too soon, but he left an indelible mark in the history of our sports.
Kneeling in front from the right are Ahmed Tesha, Emmanuel Mlundwa, Lucas Msomba, Rashid Mohamed, Habib Kinyogoli, and Bakari Kitivu (who did not go on this trip).
Behind them stand the leaders and pillars of boxing in the country: Coach William Majwala, Vice President of the Tanzania Amateur Boxing Association (TABA) Mzee Pazzi, Chairman of TABA and international referee Salim Seif Nkamba, Secretary General of TABA and international referee Narcis Tarimo, Elias Sulus (from BMT), William Lyimo, Alois Nyuti, and Dr. Kisambale.
Nearly 50 years have passed and many of them have gone ahead to the hereafter, but this photo remains evidence that Tanzania was at the top in boxing even back in the day.
- Emmanuel Mlundwa
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