Self-inflicted uppercut could floor pro-boxing
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday November 24, 2017 12:29
If the divisions that played out publicly during the Professional Boxing Association of Botswana (PBAB) meeting in Mogoditshane last week are anything to go by, then professional boxing is in danger of delivering a still born. PBAB meetings have been turned into motions of no confidence contests.
On Saturday the members passed a motion of no confidence on secretary general, Willoughby Kemoen during an ordinary general assembly (OGA). In May, the same motion was passed against the entire committee but afterwards, the members changed their minds and withdrew it.
“It is the second one this year. Each time affiliates are called for a meeting, they change the meeting into a motion of no confidence conference. Then one wonders, for how long, since the trend is carried out at each meeting,” Kemoen said.
In 2015, the idea of forming professional boxing association was hatched. This was influenced by the enactment of the 2014 Sport Act, which established the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC). Before then, boxing was only through the Botswana Amateur Boxing Association (BABA), meant for amateur boxers.
This was not helping the situation as more boxers could not progress beyond the amateur stage locally. They had to move abroad to countries like South Africa and Namibia if they wanted to pursue professional boxing. The demand for the setting up of the professional boxing body was heightened. “This was discouraging substance of retired boxers, some did not have the resources to go and seek assistance and a ground for their passion, which was professional boxing elsewhere,” Kemoen noted.
In 2003, the then Botswana National Sports Council, Department of Sports and Recreation, Attorney General’s office and BABA came together to establish Local Controlling Body (LCB), a body that was meant to take care of the concerns of professional boxing. The members from boxing were Kemoen and Shakes Kebualemang. This bore fruit as it assisted local boxers in terms of connecting them to international promoters outside the country.
Fast forward to 2015, PBAB was established.
“This was the beginning of a road full of obstacles. Other than the demands that came with registering the association, there were people who harboured misgivings once they knew that officials who were in charge at the LCB were now at the helm of the association. Such individuals renewed their rivalry from their time at LCB,” he said.
Another headache within professional boxing is that promoters feel sidelined in the Fox Sport Africa deal. Kemoen is blamed for the mess, hence he was booted out.
“They decided to kick him out and replace him with their preferred individual. They think that he is out to sabotage them. However, that was not to be as their choice resigned from her new position the moment they moved the motion of no confidence on Kemoen,” a source explained.
“They had plotted against him, by amending the constitution in order to accommodate the post of vice secretary general, in order to make the a succession plan. Unfortunately they were left holding the baby, as the individual who was co-opted to come and hold the fort, turned down the offer, briefly after accepting it,” the source continued.
When asked if there is future for PBAB, Kemoen said there is a future in the midst of all the trouble. The said people must not scramble and rush for gold. PBAB is yet to affiliate with BNSC.
“The in-fighting might work against their approval by the BNSC. They must tread carefully. There is a school of thought that says ‘too many cooks spoil the food,” a concerned official said.
PBAB president, Shakes Kebualemang said in the case of Kemoen, they had tried unsuccessfully to negotiate with affiliates to shelve the motion of no confidence. “There is nothing we can do when affiliates refuse. They tabled the motion in accordance with our constitution. I have learnt about the departure of the vice secretary general but that person has not informed us as the leadership,” Kebualemang said.
He said the vice secretary general position does not exist in the current executive committee structure, but they decided to co-opt somebody in preparation for the amendment of the constitution.
He believes the answer to PBAB’s problems lies in getting the BNSC affiliation.
“If the BNSC accepts us, this friction will stop because the Commission will be able to intervene,” he said.
Kebualemang said if their affiliation application is turned down, they will register with the Registrar of Societies to become an independent entity governed by the Constitution of Botswana. He said other professional boxing bodies in countries such as South Africa are independent.
Meanwhile, Kemoen’s sacking will rumble on after he reported his dismissal to the BNSC. However, Kebualemang said the official was not supposed to take that route as PBAB was not a BNSC affiliate.