Boxer Tswiigi cries foul after chop
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday January 8, 2021 15:50
The team would travel to France for the World qualifiers scheduled for May. Tswiigi was part of the team that competed at the Africa qualifiers held in Senegal last February. The boxer told Mmegi Sport he was shocked when he was dropped from the team without explanation. “I was not given any reason as to why I did not make it into the team. I suspect sabotage. I have worked hard thinking that I would get an opportunity to be in the team,” he said. However, Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) has defended the non-selection of the pugilist.
The association’s vice president, Gilbert Khunwane said Tswiigi is not the only boxer who was not selected for the national team. He said others are Lethabo Modukanele and Treasure Moremi. “Tswiigi was knocked out by a Zambian opponent and the same boxer would be at the World qualifiers. His chances of qualifying were nil,” he said. Tswiigi, however, shot down Khunwane’s claims, arguing it was not a given that he would lose twice to the same opponent. “Does that mean he is more powerful than me or I cannot plan for him. Maybe it is how shallow our preparations are as a country.
Does this mean my replacement in the team would be able to beat him or that replacement is better than me,” wondered Tswiigi. He said with his experience, BoBA should have given him an opportunity to complete his qualification round and if he fails that was when they could change the team. Tswiigi said the system of always changing the team would harm the country. “When you go for zonal competitions and you do not bring a medal, you are removed from the team. Then when that person fails to bring a medal, the same happens again. Consistency is key for every boxer, but we do not have those opportunities. I started competing with that Zambian boxer at the same time, but he is excelling because of consistency. He is always in the Zambian national team,” he said. Khunwane said boxers who are in the team, Mohammed Otukile Rajab, Aratwa Kasemang and George Molwantwa stand a chance of qualifying. Khunwane added they have also included talented youngster, Tshepang Kapinga. “Kapinga is still young and he is in the team for development purpose and we are preparing him for the upcoming international games.
As for Molwantwa, he would qualify because as a southpaw, they always have an advantage against their opponents,” he said. Meanwhile, the boxing team failed to go into camp on Tuesday. “BoBA takes the blame for the delay because we did not remind Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) about our plan. So I guess it was over looked and we expect the team go on camp on Sunday,” Khunwane said.