Exciting 2012 Boxing Championships on the cards

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Friday August 17, 2012 00:00

 

The total sponsorship amounted to P450, 000 with the money split into P135, 000 in the first year, P145, 000 in the second year and 155, 000 in the third year taking into consideration inflationary adjustments.

Officially launching the sponsorship, KBL marketing manager (soft drinks), Karabo Tlhabiwe said through the continued partnership with BoBA, they want to remain at the forefront as far as sport development in Botswana is concerned. Tlhabiwe said this year the championship would be more exciting as it would run parallel with a new consumer promotion. He said they want to bring the consumers of Keone Mooka Mageu closer to the sport through a promotion that will rum from August 20 to October 19. There will be prizes up for grabs ranging from mobile phones, television sets, cameras and the main prize being a Corsa Utility bakkie. The semi-finals for this year's championships will take place in Lobatse on the weekend of September 8-9 with the finals following in Gaborone a week later.

BoBA president, Michael Moroka thanked KBL for their long-standing relationship with boxing. The relationship dates as far back as 2001 when the Keone Mooka Mageu brand was still under Botswana Breweries Limited (BBL).

The championship ran without a sponsor in 2009 and 2012 before linking again with Keone Mooka Mageu last year, only this time under KBL. Moroka said through the championship, they have managed to produce a lot of boxing stars over the years who went on to represent Botswana at major international tournaments. Among the stars are Lechedzani 'Master' Luza who won silver at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games and recently Oteng Oteng who had just participated at the London 2012 summer Olympics. Oteng is the reigning Keone Mooka Mageu boxer of the tournament after winning gold in the 52 kilograms category at last year's championships held in Ramotswa. Moroka said he was confident that the championship would continue unearthing a lot of stars in the coming years.

Boxers qualify for the national championships through a series of inter-club tournaments staged all over the country since the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, BoBA revealed that champions of the Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) would also be eligible for the country's biggest boxing event. All champions from the championships will meet at the final boxing event of the year, Best of the Best Tournament in December.