27 Feb 2025

Botswana has sent eight boxers to compete at the 2025 AFBC Zone IV Elite Men and Women Championships, which started yesterday (Thursday) in Mozambique.
The team is made up of women being Gift Modise (57kg) and Keobakeng Philip (60kg) from Francistown BDF and Sekhutlo Sekhutlo of SSKB (63kg) while Dorcus Tlhabologo has been ruled out due to an injury.
The men’s side comprise of Kobamelo Molatlhegi of DTCB (48kg), Ribbin Modise of Prisons (54kg), Mmoloki Sekwaipe of EMG (57kg), and Letlhogonolo Makgaola of UB (60kg).
The Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) secretary general, Taolo Tlouetsile, said in an interview that the boxers prepared well for the tournament.
He said as BOBA, they have learnt to appreciate that they have limited resources, and that funds would never be enough.
Tlouetsile said this was the beginning of the new Olympic cycle, therefore, they expect the boxers to do well, with little or no pressure.
As it is, the coaches have done their part in preparing the team, now it is time for the boxers to prove their mettle.
Tlouetsile said the disappointing part was that there are fewer countries than they expected.
He said Zone IV has 14 members made up of Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. He said out of the 14, only Botswana, Seychelles, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique have confirmed their participation.
Tlouetsile said the tournament also has IBA star 1 and 2 courses for the Referees and Judges, adding that BoBA is represented by Gaseitsewe Ponatshego, Josephine Ntshipe, Lindah Tone and Lone Batsalelwang.
In the 2022 edition, which was also in Mozambique, Lethabo Modukanele won gold, while Kobamelo Molatlhegi and George Molwantwa won silver medals. On the other hand, Keamogetse Kenosi, Treasure Moremi and Rajab Otukile Mahommed won bronze medals.
Meanwhile, Tlouetsile said BoBA will host the Best of the Best Championship, which will be held on March 15- 16 in Gaborone and the venue will be communicated in due course. ENDS