30 Nov 2015

Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA), over the weekend, celebrated pugilists who were exceptional in 2014/2015.

Pearl Morake emerged as the female boxer of the year. Morake, who in 2014 was BNSC Sportswoman of the year,  said it was an uphill battle for a woman to climb the success ladder in the boxing arena.

Mahommed Otukile of Kutlwano, who won a bronze medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games, scooped the promising male boxer of the year 2014/15 award.

Etsogile Ngwako, who was appointed a judge at the All Africa Games, recevied the referee of the year award, while Hlanganani Digwere, who was also appointed judge at the All Africa Games, was judge of the season.

The 2014 junior female boxer of the year went to Keamogetse Kenosi while Orapeleng Ketshabetse scooped the same award for the current year.

Lechedzani Master Luza scooped coach of the year 2014, while this year’s award went to Thebe Setlalekgosi.

Kagiso Bagwasi and Zibani Chikanda’s selection by African Boxing Confederation (AFBC) to compete at the World Championship in Qatar earned them the title for the male boxer for the season for 2014 and 2015 respectively. 

When officiating at the Debswana/BoBA annual awards, Debswana’s head of safety and sustainable development, Tefo Molosiwa, said it was through dedication, commitment, hard work and team spirit that high profile boxers were produced, adding that boxing had not only produced credible boxers, but reputable coaches and referees as well as worthy administrators.

The award ceremony differed slightly from the previous ones because it was based on a two-year performance appraisal.

This change, he said, “I am told, is a pilot initiative to assess high quality performance consistency over a prolonged period.”

The now five-year-old partnership started in 2010 when Debswana sponsored the awards to the tune of P50 000 and for the period 2014/2015.

The boxing awards sponsorship amounted to P200 000, an indication that the awards had grown significantly.

BoBA president, Thato Patlakwe highlighted that boxing was not just a sport but also a way of life. 

He encouraged boxers to focus and heighten the standards of boxing in the country.

Patlakwe pleaded for support, either be physical or financial because such would boost morale of boxers, thus propelling and living the mission of BoBA. ENDS