Seoko's Olympic dream shattered

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Tuesday January 31, 2012 00:00

 

Seven local boxers - Mooketsi 'Tornado' Lekgetho, Bathusi Mogajane, Mmoloki 'Muller' Nogeng, Oteng Oteng, Ofentse Kompone, Gomotsang Gaasite and Thato Batshegi - are in camp at the Athletes' Village in Gaborone West. Batshegi, gold medallist at last year's National Championships, has been roped in as Seoko's replacement.

The team is preparing for the Africa Olympic qualifiers set for Rabat, Morocco, in April. Local boxers failed to reach the medal stages of the World Boxing Championships that were held in Baku, Azerbaijan, last September with only two African boxers, both from Algeria, getting automatic qualification to compete in London 2012. The setback leaves the Rabat qualifiers Botswana boxers' hope of making it to London.But Seoko has been denied the opportunity to battle it out for a berth in the Olympics, despite his 2010 Commonwealth successful run that saw him bag a bronze medal before he was awarded a silver after the Sri Lankan boxer, who won gold, was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs. Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) publicity secretary, Willough Kemoen gave different reasons for Seoko's axing, also revealing that they were dealing with some 'personal issues'.

'We have dropped Seoko from the squad because we feel we need to give him a break so that we try out former national team boxer, Thato Batshegi,' Kemoen told Mmegi Sport.He defended BoBA's move to pull out Seoko, throwing his weight behind Batshegi.'It's a good move because we found the 56 kilograms category wanting and we had a few challenges with the boxer (Seoko) not performing very well and we decided to pull him out of the team. Thato is one of the strongest punchers we have in Botswana. He won gold at last year's National Championships; so he is equally capable,' he said. Seoko took part in Saturday's national inter-club qualifiers at the Glen Valley Arena and won his bout.

'Seoko is aware there are some issues we are dealing with, (these are) personal issues which we would rather not discuss,' he said, stressing that no one was a permanent member of the national squad.National team coach, Khumiso Ikgopoleng will trim the squad to five before the trip to North Africa. But before that, BoBA is lining up an international camp for the boxers, as well as friendly international bouts for the boxers. The association has sent a proposal to Namibia, but are yet to get a response. Kemoen said BoBA would ensure the boxers are thoroughly prepared for the qualifiers.