Oteng leaves for Cuba to intensify Olympics preps

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Friday May 18, 2012 00:00

The Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) has finalised his training programme which includes a two-week sojourn in Cuba and camps in Venezuela and Ukraine.

BoBA publicity secretary, Willough Kemoen confirmed the development saying the boxer was still under Khumiso Ikgopoleng's tutelage. Oteng will be the only local boxer at the quadrennial event beginning July 28 after beating Algeria's Brahimi Samir 11-4 in last month's qualifiers. His five teammates who took part in the qualifiers in Casablanca failed to go beyond the preliminary round.

'He starts his preparations next week, he'll be in Cuba, then he will go to Venezuela and then Ukraine. After Ukraine he will come home for a week's rest,' Kemoen told Mmegi Sport. Oteng will gauge his readiness in Cuba when he takes part in a tournament organised by the Cubans for their boxers who will take part in the Olympics.

While in Cuba, he will train for two weeks before the tournament. The Cuba tournament, which is expected to be a big event, should mark the highlight of the young boxer's preparations for the London Games. The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and 2011 Maputo All Africa Games (AAG) gold medalist has previously done well at international events and is upbeat he will do well in London.

The 22-year old flyweight boxer's qualification brought to five the number of local athletes who will be at the prestigious Games. World 400 metres champion, Amantle Montsho, Pako Seribe, Isaac Makwala and Nigel Amos have all booked themselves places at the Olympics.

Meanwhile, BoBA is expected to announce the team for the Africa Boxing Championships today. The championships will be held in June.