UNICEF salutes Cathy

THE  United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says Zambia’s female boxing sensation, Catherine Phiri will inspire many local girls after passing her Junior Secondary School examinations.
UNICEF country representative, Hamid El-Bashir said Catherine had set a good example for her achievement to many Zambian girls who look up to her for inspiration.
In his congratulatory letter to Catherine made available to the Times yesterday, El-Bashir said the achievement scored by the Zambian lass reflected well on her character and hard work.
He said qualifying to Grade 10 also showed how Catherine effectively manages her time by combining both sports and education.
“This is a great achievement which reflects well on your character and hard work and shows that you are able to effectively manage your time and combine both sports and education.
“I have no doubt that your achievement is a good example for many girls in Zambia who look up to you for inspiration,” El-Bashir wrote his letter to Catherine dated January 21.
The African Boxing Union bantamweight champion passed her Grade Nine examination which she sat for at Namununga School in Lusaka last year in November and obtained 309 points.
Catherine who dropped out of school three years ago was given a lifeline to shape her future when Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions took her back to school.
She described her achievement as the greatest thing that had happened in her life.
UNICEF also wished Catherine success in her upcoming World Boxing Council (WBC) International women’s bantamweight title against German Pia Mazelanik scheduled for March 15 at the Government Complex in Lusaka.
Catherine promised her promoters and the entire Zambian boxing fraternity that she would make them proud by grabbing the vacant WBC bantamweight title.
And El-Bashir also thanked Catherine for appearing in a Zambia U-Report video and contributing to encouraging many young people in the nation to sign up and receive information on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

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