Mogajane crowned Boxer of the Year

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Thursday May 27, 2010 00:00

 

The 23-year-old Kanye born light flyweight boxer (48kg) beat national team compatriot, Mmoloki Nogeng (57kg) of Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) to win the coveted award. Mogajane's good performances at the beginning of last year saw him drafted into the national squad where he went on to represent the country at the Zone Six championships in Lesotho and won gold.

He represented the country at the 16th African Boxing Championships in Mauritius in July last year where he won a bronze medal. He made history when he became the first local boxer to proceed to the second round of the World Amateur Boxing Championships held in Milan, Italy, last September before wrapping up a brilliant season with a gold medal at the Keone Maoka Mageu National Championship in November.

The elated Mogajane said the award is a great motivation for him and he will continue working hard as he harbours ambitions to become one of the best in the world. He thanked his coaches at both club and national levels for guiding him to success and also applauded his teammates and opponents for the competition, which brings the best out of him.

Twenty-year old Oteng Oteng from the University of Botswana (UB) Boxing Club won the Promising Boxer of the Year award, beating Tirafalo Seoko of Kgalagadi Sands Boxing Club (KSBC). Like Mogajane, Oteng made his national team debut last year and went on to win gold at the Zone Six Championships in Lesotho. He won a bronze medal at the Africa Championship before adding another gold in the National Championships. His good performances did not go unnoticed as the world governing body, the Association of International Boxing Associations (AIBA), invited him to the AIBA road to 2012 programme, which prepares young boxers for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Kabelo Nnanaakoko won the Referee of the Year award while the Judge of the Year gong went to Gaseitsewe Ponatshego with Mothusi Taele of Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Selebi-Phikwe adjudged Coach of the Year. Taele's club was selected the Affiliate of the Year. The Special award went to Botswana Breweries Limited (BBL), which has a long-standing relationship with boxing through the sponsorship of the National Championships with their brand, Keone Mooka Mageu.

As part of their prizes, the winners will spend a night at the Yarona Country Lodge, courtesy of the lodge.   Speaking at the awards ceremony, Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) chairperson, Daniel Tau praised the BoBA executive committee for the good work they have been doing in sport. Tau said he was heartened that boxing continues to bring positive results despite the challenges they are facing, especially lack of funds. He called on the association not to forget the pioneers of the sport in the country as they move forward because that will help them grow even better.

'We have a tendency of forgetting the pioneers of sport in the country which leads to failure for continuity,' he said. He also urged the association to aggressively market the event next time in order for the corporate world to come on board.  Outgoing BoBA president, Aldrin Tayane showered both the committee and boxers for an outstanding job.  A quarterly newsletter aimed at promoting and marketing the association and its affiliates was launched at the same event.