Boxers gear up for AAB despite initial postponement
Naledi Lemogang | Friday June 9, 2017 15:17
The competitions were originally scheduled for end of March this year, but will now take place from June 17-25 in Congo Brazzaville. National team coach, Lechedzani Luza told Mmegi Sport this week that they had to change their training programme to adjust to the new dates.
“We are working more on the tactical approach because we believe that we have managed to build the physical aspects last month.
This time around we are working on the tactical skill.
We are teaching our boxers the defence skills. We condition them by giving them left handed boxers so that they prepare for such kind of bouts because most boxers in Africa who are left handed are difficult to defend,” Luza said.
However, he said he cannot talk about the medal target because they have missed out on a regional competition, Zone IV in April this year.
“I cannot measure how many medals to target now, but our aim is not to come home empty handed. The current team consists of new faces except Zibane Chikanda who has been in the team for a while,” he said. Luza said some of the boxers were in and out of the team.
Meanwhile, the national team boxers will take part in the weekend interclub tournament at Thebephatshwa.
“We are going to use the weekend competition as a test to check on our fitness,” he said.
Luza said he is happy with how they have been improving on a daily basis during training. The team is going to Congo without Kagiso Bagwasi who was attacked last month by robbers and Mmusi Tswiige who is held up by academic commitments.
For his part, team manager Gibson Rauwe said they have managed to fulfil their duties in as far as preparations for the competition are concerned. “We have a handbook for the competitions to avoid visa issues.
We are working on doing arrival visas and cross checking on the passport numbers to avoid minor delays at the borders. I will be working hand in hand with the medics to assess our boxers to avoid late injuries,” Rauwe said.
Boxers in camp:
Women
Beauty Phori 48kg
Lethabo Modukanele 51kg
Keamogetse Kenosi 60kg
Aratwa Kasemang 64kg
Men
Mahommed Otukile 52kg
Kefentse Molalapata 60kg
Zibane Chikanda 75kg
Kabo Seitshiro 64kg
Kenaope Boifang 64kg
George Molwantwa 56kg
Tefo Maitewa 56kg