02 Mar 2025

Botswana has won seven medals at the just ended 2025 AFBC Zone IV championship held in Mozambique on Saturday.

Of the six medals, two were gold, courtesy of Keobakeng Philip of Francistown BDF  in the 60kg category and Kobamelo Molatlhegi of DTCB (48kg).

Kutlwano Sekhutlo of SSKB (63kg) and Gift Modise of Francistown BDF (57kg) won two silver, whereas three bronze medals were won by Ribbin Modise (54kg) of Prisons, Mmoloki Sekwaipe (57kg) of EMG and Letlhogonolo Makgaola (60kg) of UB.

Eight boxers represented Botswana, but Dorcus Tlhabologo did not compete due to an injury.

Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) spokesperson, Gaone Motshwanaesi, who was also the team manager, said they were happy to be back to winning ways. She said five countries, being Botswana, Lesotho, eSwatini, Mozambique, and Seychelles, competed and Botswana was second to Mozambique in the overall standings.

The results showed some improvements, adding that during the 2022 AFBC Zone IV Championships, which was also in Mozambique, they won one gold medal by Letlhabo Modukanele, two silver by Kobamelo Molatlhegi and George Molwantwa, Rajab Otukile Mahommed, Keamogetse Kenosi and Treasure Moremi delivered the three bronze medals.

Motshwanaesi said although the target was to do well, they did not expect to win two gold medals against the host country.

“It was a sweet victory against Mozambique, they had all their supporters on their feet cheering their boxers, and for our boxers to have won two gold medals, honestly it is something that has to be celebrated and cherished,” she said.

Furthermore, she said the results were not a fluke given that they prepared well in their more than two weeks in camp ahead of the championship. The boxers, she said focused on their technique, strength and the physiological aspect, hence the good results.

“Boxing is one of the codes that was known for bringing glory to the country, but over the years our performance dwindled, we then went back to the drawing board to try and improve our performance, hence this results,” she said.

Of the seven medals, women won three medals. Philip won a gold while Modise and Sekhutho won silver medals. Motshwanaesi said she was confident that women boxers would carry their fine form to the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2025 in Belgrade, Serbia, in March. ENDS