Four horse race for boxing top seat
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday August 11, 2025 10:07
The incumbent, Gilbert Khunwane, faces a stiff challenge from Irene Ntelamo, Dirang Thipe and Lechedzani Master Luza. MmegiSport Staff Writer CALISTUS KOLANTSHO unpacks the promises that the four candidates have put forward in their bid to win the hearts and minds of the voters (blurb)
Lechedzani Luza Luza is a former Olympian who excelled on the international stage and is now seeking boxing's top post. 'I was motivated to contest for the position because of poor results in my beloved sport. The outgoing committee tried but obviously, when you look at what we had up to 2021, everything has collapsed. Remember, for the first time in history, boxing won two gold medals and a silver medal at the African Games in Morocco in 2019. We qualified two boxers (Rajab Mohammed and Keamogetse Kenosi) for the Olympics in 2020 after an eight-year dry spell. Last year, we could not win a bout at the African Games, and we failed dismally at the Olympic qualifiers. This performance speaks volumes about the leadership ability. We failed to maintain our standards where you build a team from junior team, you also have a support structure, and we have ditched that approach. We should be able to submit annual plans to the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) for funding, something that is not happening. I also want to revive development structures.' Team: Tshiamo Moalosi (secretary-general), Boitumelo Taolo (competitions manager), Gaone Motswanaesi (public relations officer) and Mathata Thingwane (additional member).
Irene Ntelamo With over 15 years of progressive leadership in national, continental and international boxing bodies, Ntelamo says she is all about restoring integrity, advancing excellence and empowering the future of boxing. 'I want to lead BoBA as president, driving inclusive growth, sustainable development, and global competitiveness in boxing through visionary leadership and strategic partnerships. 'My mission is to strengthen BoBA’s institutional capacity, empower athletes and coaches, enhance stakeholder collaboration, and expand our presence on the global boxing stage through strategic programming and ethical governance. My strategic pillars are institutional reform and good governance. Athlete-centred development, capacity-building, technical advancement and women and gender equality amongst others.' Ntelamo has no lobby team and is open to working with any group.
Gilbert Khunwane He was BoBA's vice president from 2012 until 2014. He was also voted into the same position in 2019 and elevated to lead the association in 2021, and he is seeking re-election. 'There is still work to be done: to develop our programmes to the extent of qualifying for the Olympics, commercialise boxing, our boxers should make a living out of boxing, with the belief that school sport is on its way, we need to resuscitate BoBA’s adopt-a-school initiative and to train more technical personnel. 'Remember that we have been in office for hardly than four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, surely some of our intended programmes were not put into practice due to limited time. The challenges that we faced included funding because our BNSC grant was reduced, a lack of experience amongst key positions in the executive committee. We also lost Debswana sponsorship for our boxing awards.'
Team: Phetogo Tsheko (vice president), Tshiamo Moalosi (secretary-general), Boitumelo Taolo (competition coordinator), Refilwe Letshwiti (treasurer), and Gaone Motshwanaesi (PRO). Dirang Thipe Thipe has served as vice president and secretary general, and he is recognised for talent identification programmes. 'I decided to contest as BoBA president due to my passion for boxing. Currently, our sport is dying silently, so I want to do a total restoration of boxing. I want to introduce a sponsored boxing league, sponsored boxing national championships and sponsored Best of the Best tournament. The boxing grassroots development programme is dead and needs to be resuscitated. Getting sponsorship is possible and I already have some potential sponsors lined up. Regarding the outgoing committee, I am sorry but they have killed boxing. Tomorrow, delegates should not vote based on friendship but on vote quality and passion. Boxing should be the winner at the end of the day. '
Team: Hlanganani Digwere (vice president), Moremi Lefiri (secretary-general), Motswanaesi (PRO), and Dintwa Sloca (additional member).
Other contestants: Taolo Tlouetsile (secretary-general), Olebogeng Gaothobogwe (additional member), and Kabelo Seleka (PRO).