Scud eager to help reform former prisoner pugilists

| Friday September 24, 2010 00:00

Botswana's first professional boxer, Thuso 'Scud' Khubamang continues to make his mark in the country's sports circles even outside the boxing ring. Khubamang, who is now a boxing promoter with his stable called, 'Scud

Mmegi Sport: Scud, you launched a rehabilitation programme for prisoners at the beginning of the year. You were supposed to have started road shows, what is holding you?

Khubamang: The major hindrance I have been facing is lack of finance. I was still involved in negotiations with potential sponsors. I have involved the departments of Youth, Sports and Recreation, as well as financial institutions like CEDA, some have promised while we still have to reach a common understanding with others. So, I can say very soon we will be starting the road shows.

Mmegi Sport: Why did you come up with this initiative?

Khubamang: It was when I was still a professional boxer in the United States. We used to visit prisons and found out that there is a lot of boxing talent there. You will realise that some popular sports figures in the US were identified at prison. I figured out the idea may work well here at home; so when I came back I decided to give it a try.

Mmegi Sport: How easy or difficult has it been for you to come up with the initiative?

Khubamang: It has been a long, difficult journey. First, I did not have the necessary capital to start it; so I had to solicit for sponsorship. I had to spend a lot of time trying to convince people that it is a good initiative. Some just took me for granted while others listened but were not willing to partner or help implement the initiative.

Mmegi Sport: Why prisons? Why have you chosen to do this programme in prisons?

Khubamang: I realised that prisoners are neglected. Once they leave prison, they are left isolated to go and face life alone. This is often very difficult for them because they are rejected by the society. People take them as criminals who cannot live with people. They then end up resorting to crime again because they now prefer life in prison than out, which is a very saddening situation. The other thing I realised is that there is a lot of talent down there in prisons. This talent will never be realised unless we help the inmates. Some of them are very young and still have long future after prison.

Mmegi Sport: Tell us what will the programme entail?

Khubamang: The programme is not only about boxing, I have included other sports and music, arts as well as other disciplines like counselling, business tutoring and crafts. We will be going around with a team of skilled professionals in various fields who will help implement the programme. We will visit prisons, teach and help the prisoners, counsel them as well as identify talent in various sports and arts. Those who finish their prison terms, will continue with the programme; we will help them get accommodated back into the community and probably do something for a living.

Mmegi Sport: Judging by the response after launching the programme, do you see it succeeding?Khubamang: The response we have been getting is positive. I am totally convinced the programme will not fail. If we are successful with the road shows, everything will sail smoothly after. I have a very strong team of young people who are motivated to work on the programme. So, with necessary support from all involved stakeholders, I definitely think it will be a success.

Mmegi Sport: Shifting the focus to boxing now, have you given up on your dream to have a professional boxers' body established in the country?

Khubamang: No, I have not given up and will never do that. I am still pursuing that establishment and I remain hopeful that one day we will have the body. We have long been pleading with the sporting fraternity to professionalise because I think that is long overdue.

Mmegi Sport: What do you think is causing the delay to professionalise boxing?

Khubamang: I think the sporting fraternity here does not value the importance of professional sport. It is not only in boxing because other sports codes continue to be run at amateur level. We should realise that if we want to go somewhere and our sport be recognised globally, we cannot stay amateur forever. Here sport politics and jealousy also plays a part in this delay. When you want to do something for the good of the sport, some people become jealous because they think you want to benefit from the cause. It did not take long to establish a pro-boxing board in other Southern African countries like Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Namibia. It is only here in Botswana where it seems difficult.

Mmegi Sport: But what are exactly some of the major issues advanced as hindrances?

Khubamang: A committee was set up to oversee pro-boxing in the country. Surprisingly, the people on that committee did not seem to understand a thing about pro-boxing. They were simply not interested, they could not even go and benchmark. The demands they are making on a promoter to stage a pro-bout are just too much.

They want a promoter to find insurance for the boxers and that is not supposed to be the case; the boxers should be insured from their stables if at all they need insurance. We need people who understand pro-boxing to form the board, not just anyone.

Mmegi Sport: But why do you think we need to have the board?

Khubamang: First, we should realise that professional boxing ranks are the paying ranks of the sport, that is to say it is the level where one can now start making a living and sustain themselves from the sport. Therefore, every boxer's dream is to become a professional one day. Those young boys want to take off that vest and headgear and fight at the pro level. I am not saying amateur boxing is bad, it is good for boxers to start at amateur level, but there is a stage where they now have to move up. That is when they have done their part as amateurs. The other problem is that without a board, it is very difficult for local promoters to stage professional bouts here. The next thing they go and sign with other stables outside the country and it is very difficult to have fights arranged for them in foreign land because promoters there give locals first priority. I am talking from experience here. Look at Lesley Sekotswe, he is an African champion and when was the last time he fought? It is tough for them. If there was a local board, they could be staging their fights locally, which could be easier and good for their careers.

Mmegi Sport: But do you think our boxers have what is needed to establish themselves in the professional ranks?

Khubamang: I have no doubt about that. Botswana has been blessed with an array of very good boxers. From the generations of France Mabiletsa, Healer Modiradilo, myself, Khumiso Ikgopoleng, Master Luza and the current generation. Ask them, all the counterparts they fought with from other countries progressed to the professional ranks. Just what did they gain from all their years in amateur boxing? Nothing.

Mmegi Sport: Would there be no conflict if a pro-boxing boxy exists with an amateur body?

Khubamang: I think there can be no problem here. It will just depend on their organisation and structures. In fact they should work together and complement one another. That is the case in other countries with pro-boxing. The success of pro-boxing will depend heavily on the successes of amateur boxing. Amateur boxers have gone far in this country, that is why I am positive that pro-boxing can  also make its mark.

What BoBA should be doing is encourage the amateur boxers to work hard so they can progress to the professional level when the time is right. But they are not doing enough.

Mmegi Sport: What is your relationship with the Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA)?

Khubamang: I am trying to build a very good working relationship with BoBA. See they (BoBA) are doing a very good job in unearthing raw boxing talent; they deserve commendation for that.

Mmegi Sport: Thank you very much Scud for your time, all the best!

Khubamang: Thank you sir.