Triple boxing gold beckons Botswana
Thato Kala | Wednesday December 10, 2014 13:45
The hopes of a gold medal haul have been raised after three out of the country’s four boxers progressed to today’s finals.
Atang Mosenke, Mohammed Otukile and Kutlwano Ogaketse all put up stellar pefromances to book places in the finals set for 2pm today at Bulawayo’s Large City Hall.
However, Wame Mathonsi fell by the wayside on Monday when he lost to a South African opponent in the semis.
Otukile, 2-1 winner over a Zimbabwean opponent, goes to the final buoyed by his Africa Youth Games’ (AYG) gold medal. He won Botswana’s only gold boxing medal at the AYGs early this year.
Botswana boxing coach, Master Luza is quite confident the trio will bring home gold medals.
“It was a great day. We have three in the finals. The other one settled for bronze. We are aiming for all three gold,” he said.
Luza’s confidence is also strengthened by Ogaketse’s bronze medal at the AYG and his 3-0 triumph over a Zambian boxer to reach the final in Bulawayo.
Mosenke, who beat a Swaziland boxer on Saturday, missed out on an AYG medal in May after being drawn with the eventual champion.
He is confident this may be his competition.
“I am so happy with the way I have performed at this tournament. The other guys also did extremely well. We all want gold,” he said.
All eyes will be on the boxers with tennis aces Emmanuel Mabhechu and Phatsimo Ruele knocked out on Monday after losing their preliminary stage matches.
Athletes have had to wait a little longer before they take to the track after the organisers’ failure to complete renovations at the White City Stadium and disruptions caused by the rains. The netball programme has also not escaped the rain problem after the game between Botswana and Zimbabwe was disrupted on Monday.
In judo, Botswana clinched five medals on Monday - one gold, two silver and two bronze.
Judo coach, Kingsely Segokotlo said he was pleased with the performance considering that only one of his charges failed to get a medal.
“I brought six players to the games and they managed to do well because five of them managed to get medals with Lucky Mabaka getting disqualified in her match. She is new in the team and it is unfortunate she held below the belt, an action that attracts automatic disqualification,” he explained.
Gavin Mogopa (55kg) got gold while Letlagile Tsheko (60kg) and Min Young Kim (63kg) won silver each with Tirelo Lekoto (66kg) and Thato Lebang (73kg) bagging a bronze medal each.
Botswana was number five in the judo medals table behind South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
In football, the match between Botswana and Namibia was postponed due to a clash of socks colours and will be played today. COSAFA officials had awarded the match to Namibia but relented and agreed that the two sides should play each other.
In other results
Botswana lost 52-21 in netball to Zimbabwe before falling 56-34 in basketball to South Africa.
Today’s timetable: Athletics, swimming, boxing finals. In basketball, Botswana will play Angola. In netball, Botswana will play Namibia. In football Botswana take on Namibia.