At 4pm on Sunday, from the isolation of a luxurious holiday retreat in Cyprus, where he is avoiding capture, the provocative figure Tommy Robinson tweeted about Bolton, igniting a wave of unrest in the area that is deeply unsettling for many of our communities.
In a striking coincidence, just two minutes later, a young boxer from Bolton stepped into the ring in the Seine-Saint-Denis region of north-west Paris. She showcased her talent and resilience in a way that defied the divisive rhetoric of figures like Robinson.
Cindy Ngamba made the sign of the cross as she entered an Olympic arena to face her French counterpart, Davina Michel. She was met with boos before her gloves were even raised, yet she remained unfazed.
The weight of her victory in the 75kg quarter-final may have only hit her upon entering the mixed zone, where journalists from America, France, Italy, and Britain scrambled for a moment of her time amidst the backdrop of the stadium’s sounds.
This frenzy was heightened by the fact that Ngamba represents the Refugee Olympic Team. Her triumph ensured that she would become their first-ever medalist when she competes against Panama’s Atheyna Bylon tomorrow night.
Cindy Ngamba crossed herself as she walked out into an Olympic arena where she fought a French opponent, Davina Michel. Boos rained down on Ngamba (pictured above)
The significance of her winning that 75kg quarter-final bout only became clear to her upon stepping into the mixed zone where journalists clamoured to get their questions
Amidst the hustle of that five-minute mixed zone encounter, Ngamba’s Bolton accent resonated clearly. She spoke fondly of the friends cheering for her back home.
She recalled her time at the Bolton Lads & Girls Club, a community hub where young people have been learning to live and grow together for over a century, currently boasting more than 4,000 active members.
Regardless of background, the club fosters unity, and for Ngamba, it was the place where, over a decade ago, she first discovered a boxing gym, captivated by its atmosphere, and never looked back.
She also reflected on her experiences at Bolton College, where she is regarded as a cherished alumna, and the University of Bolton, where she earned her BA in Crime and Criminal Justice last year.
The Bolton News, acting as a reliable reflection of community sentiment, wanted its readers to be aware of Ngamba’s journey. One of their headlines over the weekend declared, ‘Messages of support for Bolton boxer,’ amid calls for peace from local leaders before anticipated unrest.
Ngamba’s journey in Britain has not been without its challenges. She and her older brother relocated from Cameroon at the age of 10 to live with their father, facing difficulties with the English language initially.
Her parents were not consistently present in her life; in 2019, Ngamba was detained during a routine appointment at a Manchester immigration office, facing deportation to West Africa due to missing documents, but she has since obtained refugee status.
The strains of Ngamba’s Bolton accent were unmistakable in that frantic five-minute mixed zone exchange, and she certainly didn’t forget the town which shaped her
She is competing for the Refugee Olympic Team because she still awaits citizenship and a passport from the country which has been her home for 15 years
Ngamba is representing the Refugee Olympic Team while she awaits recognition as a citizen and a passport from the nation she has called home for the past 15 years.
A heartfelt short clip of Ngamba shared on the GB Boxing Instagram highlights her determination: ‘Every human faces hardships in life. If you can look past the urge to pity yourself, you’ll understand the challenges that lie ahead. You just have to keep moving forward,’ she expresses.
Ngamba has supported herself through part-time jobs in a warehouse and cleaning.
When she first joined the Bolton club, they had never had a female boxer before her arrival, and for a significant period — longer than she cared to admit — she was limited to skipping.
Her determination led the coaches to begin teaching her techniques, showing her how to evade punches. At 18, she aged out of the Lads & Girls Club and transitioned to the Halliwell ABC gym, situated in the heart of Bolton’s terraced streets.
GB Boxing coaches recount the journey of this remarkable young woman under their guidance. ‘She’s developed incredibly, both as a boxer and as an individual,’ says one coach, Joe Hale.
Essentially, she is a member of the British team, currently training every week in Sheffield with the full-time GB Boxing Podium Squad, even though she does not qualify for UK Sport funding due to her citizenship status.
Ngamba pictured with Natasha Jonas after sparring during her training for the Olympics
The GB Boxing team has assigned coach Darren Maher to work with the IOC refugee team, taking on the role of lead coach in her corner.
In the mixed zone last Sunday, French reporters, aware of Ngamba’s roots in French-speaking Cameroon, asked her to converse in their language. Unsure of her proficiency, she attempted, stopping to ask, ‘What’s the word for “challenge?”’
Regardless of whether she takes home gold, silver, or bronze, Ngamba’s name and likeness will resonate worldwide tomorrow night. Bolton stands united behind her.
Icon Souness bares soul in new podcast
I had the honor of spending two days with Graeme Souness, delving into the narrative of his life through a series of interviews for a new six-part Daily Mail podcast series titled Everything I Know About Me.
His reflections on the fragility of life revealed deep introspection, some of which still brings him sorrow. For instance, he learned of his mother Elizabeth’s passing while aboard the Liverpool team bus, receiving the news during a phone call that caused a delay in the bus’s return to the club, resulting in a reprimand from the coaches.
It’s been a privilege to spend two days with Graeme Souness, going over the story of his life in a series of interviews for a new six-part Daily Mail podcast series, Everything I Know About Me
When the nature of the call reached the team bus, the atmosphere shifted. Joe Fagan sat beside Souness for the remainder of the journey, offering words of comfort.
These challenging times featured some of the toughest competitors, yet they displayed more empathy than one might assume.
