Boxing team in Congo for All Africa tourney

Naledi Lemogang | Thursday June 15, 2017 15:29

The team left the country yesterday, accompanied by team manager Gibson Rauwe, doctor Thuto Ralegoreng, assistant coach Emmanuel Galeboe and national team coach Lechedzani Luza.

Tefo Maitewa and Kenaope Boifang were the unlucky boxers who missed out on the final selection.

BOBA spokesperson, Kenny Maragana said the two athletes have benefited a lot in the period when they were in camp.

“To be part of the national team training is an achievement that can form part of their profiles and it gives them an opportunity to learn new tactics from national team coaches,” Maragana said. He said last year Botswana finished fourth after bringing home a silver and three bronze medals.

Luza said they have been following their daily programme and teaching the boxers different attacking, defending and punching skills. Luza said the team is physically fit and they have been working on conditioning boxers by giving them left handed boxers in a way of preparing them for such kinds of bouts because most African boxers who are left handed are difficult to approach and defend.

 Last weekend the team participated in the local boxing inter-club tournament, which was held at Thebephatshwa with all five male boxers wining their bouts while their four women counterparts failed to get opponents.

Luza said the four women, who are part of the national team, are forced to fight against each other regardless of their category, due to lack of opponents.

He said the women boxers have been doing well in the build-up to the Congo trip, and are given the attention they deserve.

Meanwhile team manager, Rauwe said they had more time for preparations since the competitions were postponed which also gave them a good period to deal with travel documents. He said they have done tremendous work in ensuring that the boxers received proper medical and social attention.

“The team is ready to perform even though we have missed the Zone IV competitions, the regional tournament that could have given them practice. However, we have been talking to the team during the camp to work hard and to stay positive since the country is expecting a lot from them,” Rauwe said.

Boxers to represent Botswana at AAB

Women

Beauty Phori 48kg

Lethabo Modukanele 51kg

Keamogetse Kenosi 60kg

Aratwa Kasemang 64kg

 

Male

Mahommed Otukile 52kg

Kefentse Molalapata 60kg

Zibane Chikanda 75kg

Kabo Seitshiro 64kg

George Molwantwa 56kg