Seoko's national team spot on the line

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Tuesday November 23, 2010 00:00

 

Less-fancied Farmer beat Seoko hands down in the tournament used by BOBA to determine national team places. The bout was not the first Seoko has lost since his return from the Commonwealth Games held in India last month.

Fresh from the games, Seoko lost in the preliminary rounds of the National Championships going down to Michael 'Pick and Shovel' Rantsho, in the featherweight (56kg) division. BOBA spokesperson Willoughby Kemoen said no boxer is assured a permanent spot in the national squad.

He told Mmegi Sport that the squad is selected on merit.'There is no compromise in the national team for both boxers and coaches because we are trying to achieve success in our four-year strategic plan launched in 2008,' he said. Kemoen said so far there has been a lot of improvement in Botswana boxers, which is something they would like to see continue. Meanwhile, Seoko's coach, Moitshepi Nkabiti expressed concern about Seoko's recent poor performances. He said the boxer's showing has dropped significantly since the beginning of the year. He said that Seoko spends most of his time in Gaborone while his club, the Kgalagadi Sands Boxing Club (KSBC), is based in Tsabong.

'His training isn't stable because he jumps from one club to another; and this confuses him because he is still a young athlete,' he said. Nkabiti said that most clubs want to sign Seoko because they have realised he has much potential. He said that his attempts to lure Seoko back to Tsabong have failed on several occasions although the lad is still a member of KSBC.

Nkabiti said that Seoko's relocation to Gaborone has not only made it difficult to monitor his performance but also his behaviour.

'The other reason he may not be performing well is because of a recent scandal he was involved in that I cannot reveal,' he said. Seoko said that he is still part of KSBC. He said that his below the par performance is not because of his relocation to Gaborone.

'The reason I lost at the National Championships was because I had not had enough rest after the Commonwealth Games whereas I lost at the Best of the Best due to inadequate training,' he said. Seoko said that he has been involved in some 'family issues' that required his time, which is why he could not train.

He said that now the personal issues have been settled and he is ready to come back next year to prove that he is still a good boxer. He said he hopes to once again be selected for the national team in order to prove his worth. The 19-year-old is currently training at the University of Botswana (UB) Boxing Club but plans to return to Tsabong to rejoin his club, KSBC.