DTCB vows to continue producing quality boxers
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday November 25, 2015 15:33
The club scored 25 points to finish in first position with second place going to Selebi-Phikwe based EMG with 12 points.
DTCB coach, Thebe Setlalekgosi was voted the coach of the tournament with Kagiso Bagwasi the best boxer of the tournament. Kutlwano Ogaketse was selected the most promising boxer and best bout was between Bagwasi and Kabo Seitshiro of EMG. Setlalekgosi told Mmegi Sport yesterday that he has been involved with boxing for a long time and it was the first time that a club has won five medals. He said that was a sign that they are doing things well.
“I started coaching these boxers in 2009 when they were still young and some were 13 years old,” he said. “You could tell from their performance during Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) games. I have instilled a professional way of boxing. I have also taught them that boxing is business not a hobby.”
Setlalekgosi said for boxers to do well in tournaments, they should have enough time to prepare. He said he was not surprised by the performance of his boxers as he expected them to perform well. He said DTCB was the only club in the country that spent a lot of time on training. Setlalekgosi said together with Khumiso Ikgopoleng, they came up with an eight-week training programme that they followed to the letter. He said the programme was even suitable for national team athletes.
DTCB was formed as a social club, but was later transformed into an amateur club and the Diamond Trading Company Botswana is their main sponsor as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. Setlalekgosi said he had about 30 boxers, five of them women.
He said there was no special training for women because they had the same ability as men. He said one of the talented boxers the club has produced was Keneilwe Rakhudu.
“It is unfortunate that Rakhudu has fought once in Botswana,” he said. “She was unable to take part in the weekend competition because she did not have an opponent. We cannot expect her to qualify for the Olympic Games when the situation is like that.”
Nevertheless, Setlalekgosi said the association had set aside programmes that focused on the development of women boxers. He added that it was difficult to attract women to the sport.