Botswana sends two boxers to World Championships
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday October 7, 2015 14:57
Zibani Chikanda (75kg) and Kagiso Bagwasi (64kg) carry Botswana’s hopes. Emmanuel Galeboe is the coach while Healer Modiradilo travelled as the team manager. BoBA spokesperson, Kenny Maragana told Mmegi Sport yesterday that Chikanda and Bagwasi booked themselves a spot at the World competition through their sterling performances at the All Africa Games held in Brazzaville, Congo last month.
He said if the two boxers secure gold and silver medals they would qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Maragana said the qualifying for the World Championships is an achievement on its own but if the boxers qualify for Rio 2016, it will be a bonus.
The boxers were in action last night with Chikanda facing an opponent from Slovakia while Bagwasi fought a boxer from Doha.
Meanwhile, the first of the last two batches of BoBA interclub tournaments would be held next weekend (October 17) in Hukuntsi.
Maragana said the interclub tournaments serve as qualifiers for the national championship to be held next month in Gaborone.
He said all top boxers are working hard to qualify for the event because it is the biggest under BoBA calendar. Maragana said the championship is also used to select the national team.
“The (October 17) tournament is being hosted by Kang Boxing Club. The club has a youthful coach in Othusitse Mogotsakgotla. One of the highly rated boxers at the club is Koketso Dipogiso who is the current Zone IV silver medalist.
The aim of the club is to develop talent from grassroots level.
That forms part of BoBA strategy of targeting boxers at a young age,” he said.
Maragana said Mogotsakgotla worked with the national team coach, Muster Luza during the Africa Youth Games and the team did not disappoint as it won medals. He said the coach was also part of the technical team that worked with Youth Commonwealth bronze medalist, Mohammed Otukile.
Maragana said over a short period of time, Mogotsakgotla has proved that he is a star coach. He said development should not only be about boxers as coaches should not be left behind. Maragana said resourced coaches are needed to produce better boxers.