The club was outstanding in different categories including walking away with the best coach award. The versatile Kago Raokgwathile scooped a gold medal in lightweight (57kg-60kg) category while Odean Lessau was victorious in light welter (63.5kg-67kg) category. Bond Ngubula Junior walked home with a silver medal and the best bout trophy. Other gold medals were scooped by Shathiso Makhani (welter weight) and Monty Chiepe, who was fighting in the light heavy weight (86kg) bout. Bond Ngubula was the best coach of the tournament with his club seating at the top with five medals (four gold and one silver).
Speaking to SportMonitor, One Two Five coach, Ngubula, said being at the top means a lot because this has been an ongoing for many years. He said all they wanted was to build a successful boxing club with good boxers and it seems like things are going according to plan. “Our plan is to have good boxers who can eventually turn professional boxers, looking at their performance they stand a chance to succeed. Last year we finished in position one at the a tournament organised by University of Botswana club but we did not do well at the BoBA national championships. It is an indication of our efforts, I always say that we are doing boxing for a living, some of our boxers are employed in our gym. Our manager also works in Bond Boxing Gym full time,” he said.
Ngubula said his club comprises of youthful boxers who still have a bright future such as Lessau (19) winning against veteran boxer, Rennie Tebogo of Diamond boxing club. For his part, Lessau said he did his best looking at his experience, although he made some mistakes. After pulling a win against Letlhogonolo Makgolela of UB boxing club, Raokgwathile said he was looking forward to a win because the plan is to get the national team selection. “I wish to be in the national team so that I get an opportunity to compete outside Botswana. Given an opportunity I can do well. I am a show stopper, every time I step on the ring, all eyes are on me. The ring is my hunting ground, I do not fear any opponent. My team mates and my coaches are always motivating me, they believe in me and young boxers look up to me,” he said.
The women’s bantam weight (52kg-54kg) was won by Bheke Phekie of Diamond boxing club beating Chedza Montse. Phekie said a win a better option because she had prepared well for the bout. “There was no anxiety because I knew my opponent, I had fought against her before. Whatever I did in the ring, is what I have been doing at training. It was an easy fight for me,” she said. Medal standings: Position two: Francistown boxing club (two silver medals, one bronze), position three: Diamond Boxing Club (two gold, one silver), position four: Police Boxing Club (one gold, two bronze) and position five: Prisons Boxing Club (one gold, one silver and one bronze).
