Boxers off to Zone VI, World Championships
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Thursday April 10, 2014 10:02
The World Junior Boxing Championships will be held in Bulgaria from today to April 25, but the Botswana team of six leaves for the tournament tomorrow because its first fixtures are scheduled for the weekend.
In the male category, Botswana will be represented by the Mahommed Otukile Rajab (49kg), Kutlwano Ogaketse (52kg), Ontlogetse Qaate (56kg) and Atang Mosenke (64kg). Koketso Dipogiso (51kg) and Keamogetse Kenosi (60kg) are expected to hoist the country’s flag in the women’s category.
The team is under the tutelage of former internationals, Master Luza and Khumiso Ikgopoleng. “We have been preparing since December last year. Some of these young boxers have been taking part in the Inter-Club competitions and it has helped us a lot in preparing for this event,” Luza told journalists at the teams’ presentations in Gaborone yesterday. He expressed confidence that his team will prove its mettle against some of the best boxers in the world. The competition will serve as the sole qualifying event for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
The senior team leaves on Monday for the Zone VI competition in Pretoria, South Africa. The boxers return on April 22. They will be under the guidance of head coach, Thebe Setlalekgosi and his two assistants, Modisaotsile Mokudu and Chonga Ntoti. The team consists of several big names in local boxing. The 2012 Olympic boxer, Oteng Oteng is among the medal hopefuls. He will compete in the 52kg category together with Tefo Rammupudu. Bagwasi brothers, Kagiso and Kabelo are also expected to hoist the nation’s flag high following their form in local competitions. The two brothers have been dominant in the Inter-Club competitions since last year.
Kabelo competes in the 60kg category while Kagiso is in the 64kg category. Other boxers in the team are Tirafalo Seoko (56kg), Mooketsi Lekgetho (49kg), Kefentse Molalapata (56kg), Mmusi Tswiige (69kg), Robby Botshelo (75kg), Thabang Motsewabeng (81kg) and Keneilwe Rakhudu (64kg).
The tournament serves as a preparatory event for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23 to August 3. “These games (Zone Vi) will give us a clear picture of where we are and where we are going. Most of these boxers have fought four or five bouts in local competitions and we expect them to be in good shape for these event,” Setlalekgosi said.