BoBA seeks former glory

The Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) will send only four athletes to the upcoming Zone IV games scheduled for Mozambique next week. It is now apparent that BoBA will not be chasing glory but using the regional games for the bigger 2018 Commonwealth Games scheduled for Australia this April. Nevertheless, this is a sad state of affairs as Botswana have been a dominating force in the Zone IV games in recent years. BoBA could only accommodate four boxers due to financial constraints. Moreover, team Botswana never lost their regional title in the ring. Instead financial troubles saw Botswana failing to compete at last year’s games. This time around BoBA will be sending only four athletes to the Zone IV games.

The four athletes including 2014 Africa Youth games gold medallist Mohammed Otukile (52kg) and Tefo Maitewa (56kg) in the men’s category. The two will be joined by Keamogetse Kenosi (60kg) and Aratwa Kesemang (57kg) in the women’s category. The four athletes who are under the watchful eye of headcoach Lechedzani ‘Master’ Luza are expected to compete at the Commonwealth games in less than two months. Both Otukile and Kenosi come with a decent level of experience having been regular national team athletes. Otukile recently competed at the International Boxing Association championships (AIBA) held in Germany last year. However, Kenosi has not been competing at high-level events recently. The 60 kg athlete came to prominence after a stellar international debut at the 2014 African Youth Games held in Gaborone.

In the ring, Otukile is quick and defensive and clinical. On the other hand, Kenosi is known for her brawling abilities that often defeat her opponents. All members of the national team impressed earlier this month in the first inter club competition of the year held at SSKB. The Botswana National Olympic (BNOC) is expected to fund the Mozambique trip as part of the preparations for the Commonwealth. Meanwhile, BoBA is desperately seeking a good result from both the Commonwealth games and the Zone IV. The once thriving sport code has been in a slump recently after they failed to qualify for the 2016 Olympic games while Otukile was eliminated in the preliminary stages of the World Championships. The last time Botswana brought boxing medals from the Commonwealth games was during 2010 at New Delhi India where Tirafalo Seoko (56 kg) brought home silver. Seoko initially won bronze before his opponent was disqualified on doping suspicions.