Ruptly
"Hundreds of spectators gathered in Goma on Sunday evening for the inaugural ‘Night of the Volcanoes’, a professional boxing gala designed to showcase defiance and unity amidst the region’s complex security challenges. Footage shows fighters from the DR Congo and Uganda trading punches in the ring, cheered on by an energised crowd in a charged atmosphere. “Goma is resilient, as you know. And sport is an event that always manages to bring people together,” said organizer Jerry Mutapayi. “Sport allows us to unite. We are all part of Africa. And we are brothers. If the Ugandans came here, it is to support us and to show them that Goma is resilient. Goma always manages to survive whatever circumstances may arise,” he added. Inside the ring, local Alpha Bisimwa Jean secured a hard-fought victory. “The match was a bit tough for me, but I gave it my all to win, so the victory was well deserved,” Jean said. “My goal is to reach the international level.” For Goma’s residents, the event offered a much-needed outlet and a chance to reconnect with a sense of normal life, as stands filled with hundreds of fans watching both men’s and women’s bouts. “With everything we have experienced in terms of the security situation, we needed events like this to enjoy ourselves,” said Ben Muhima, a spectator. “Despite everything we have gone through, we are still living." Shadowed by the Nyiragongo volcano and the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, the event's name pivots the symbolism of an ‘explosion’ from disaster toward positive sporting energy and the city's unbreakable resilience."
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