AFRICA TO PULL OUT OF CBC: Ndolo to lead quest for fresh elections or formation of new Commonwealth boxing body

The outgoing Kenya Proffesional Boxing commission(KPBC) patron Reuben Ndolo and incoming patron Johnson Sakaja.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

The Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC) is in disarray and serious danger of collapse after its African members accused the body of “racism” and threatened to break away from  the Commonwealth family and form their own association.

The split, which has been simmering for a while, came into the open after the Africans went up in arms over CBC’s alleged failure to conduct its Presidential elections on December 12 in which Reuben Ndolo of the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission was a candidate.

 

SENIOR TITULAR

Instead, the body announced that Frank Hadley, Director of Australian National Boxing Federation had been selected to the senior titular and ceremonial position as the President-elect of the CBC from January 1.

But Ndolo has rubbished the selection, saying the constitution of CBC was flouted and a repeat election must be held in April in London, failure to which, they will move on and register a splinter body, the International Commonwealth Boxing Association (ICBA) to be based in London, UK.

“Why are they running from Britain to France? It means there is something they are keen to cover and even the British Boxing Council is suing them (CBC) and the best solution is to go to genuine polls and we elect new leaders.

“Currently, all bouts are taken either to Canada or Australia. We have only had one in Ghana over the last decade. What is happening? When I was chairman, we had over 100 bouts in Africa and boxers were busy. Today CBC have nothing to show,” said Ndolo.

But speaking in an exclusive interview on Sunday from France, Simon Block, Honorary Secretary of the CBC, refuted allegations of any wrong-doing on the elections or deviating from the rules of his professional body.

“We had a presidential election. The voting request was sent out to every single Director of the CBC explaining how the vote was going to be conducted and every single Director was given the opportunity to vote. The only one who didn’t vote is our Chairman who chooses not to vote unless he is requited to give a casting vote. There were two contenders - Mr Ndolo, our former President, and Mr frank Hadley from Australia who had not been a President before.”

FORMALLY HAND OVER

He said that Mr Hadley would hold office until the Spring/Interim Meeting of the CBC scheduled to take place in the first few months of that year when current President, Dr Peter Ngatane would formally hand over.

Voting was scrutinized by Dr Ngatane and the Chairman, Philip Brook Smith QC.

There was an immediate furore from the African delegates, including Mr Ndolo, a former President of the CBC, who were in London for the election questioning the authenticity of the balloting. He accused the CBC of leaving Africans out in the cold saying there was an element of “racism” in the Commonwealth body.

Mr Ndolo was particularly incensed saying “the election was not conducted, and if it was done, who voted and counted the votes?”

Ndolo challenged the validity of Mr Hadley’s election and that “voting did not take place in December” if it did “then let Peter (Ngatane) and Phillip (Brook Smith) prove it.”

“I say no to Frank Hadley’s selection because election was not conducted and if it was done who voted and who counted the votes? Frank Hadley was not even present at the meeting on the 11 and 12th December. No one can be elected on the basis of emails!”

He demanded that the result of the election be declared null and void and threatened that a group of African members of the CBC were planning to take the matter to Courts because of what he saw as irregularities in the voting.

Mr Ndolo revealed that Peter Ngatane left before the December 12 meeting ended, saying “Gentlemen and Ladies, let us postpone this election to later dates. Thanks.”

The African members and most particularly Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are complaining that the rules were changed in the middle of the game to favour the Australian who was not even present at the AGM as required by the rules.

“How can you elect someone who was not even present at the AGM and in fact by email voting and declared that a valid election?” wondered Mr Ndolo, who was present at the AGM.

ALLEGATIONS OF RACISM

Mr Block shot down any suggestions of a rescheduled Presidential election in April.

“That has never been an issue and there was no question of a further election taking place as the voting was properly conducted other than the time after the new President Mr Hadley fulfills his two-

year term.

“I will say the only technical issue is that Mr Hadley was not at the meeting and will not be coming until April when we have our spring meeting when Dr Ngatane will formally hand over to Mr Hadley at that meeting.”

Mr Block strongly denied allegations of racism saying “that was a very unfortunate accusation to throw out”.

The African members are now planning to appeal the President and Chairman’s decisions to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London or establishment of International Commonwealth Boxing Association to be based in London UK. [e-mail]