15 May 2016

Africa Youth Games light fly champion, Mohammed Otukile, is preparing for his final chance to grab a ticket for this year’s Olympic Games billed for Rio de Janeiro in Brazil from August 5-21.

The hard hitting 18-year-old Otukile confirmed in an interview after his bout against Khumoyame Basupeng at the Botswana Boxing Association’s (BoBA) rotational interclub tournament in Glen Valley on Saturday that after failing to make the cut at a continental boxing Olympic qualifying event in Yaoundé in March, he was now focusing on competing in the AIBA World Olympic Qualifiers in Azerbaijan next month.

Botswana’s hopes were blown up in smoke when Tunisia’s Montassar El Bouali successfully negotiated a tough battle against Otukile in Cameroon recently. 

The bout attracted boo’s from the crowd who deemed judges’ decision to be grossly unfair against the marauding youngster.

However, on Saturday Otukile’s preparations got off to a rude awakening when he lost on technicalities after sustaining an injury in his match against Basupeng. 

The referee had to stop the contest and Basupeng declared the winner when Otukile succumbed to a cut above his right eye. 

Otukile had a great bou  mesmerising spectators with his fancy footwork and an impressive southpaw stance, but when Basupeng sensed danger he unleashed a straight hook that ended the match.  

Another interesting duel was in the 75kg bout between Lentswe Zwinila and Mogomotsi Sesupo of BMC club. 

The rejuvenated Zwinila crushed Sesupo with relative ease and the referee had to come to the latter’s rescue with a third standing eight-count. 

Judges had to split their decisions in declaring University of Botswana’s Atang Nkala victorious in his close tie with Malefo Lenkopane in the 69kg category. 

Thabiso Mpolokeng beat UB’s Katlego Galetlale in the 60kg division. Chriswell Jongwe beat Kenneth Otsweleng in the heavy weight while enterprising woman boxer, Beauty Phori beat visiting Francinah David of Jwaneng.

Meanwhile, BoBA publicity secretary, Kenny Maragana said national scouts were keeping an eye on eight youth boxers to be selected for the forthcoming Africa Union Sport Council Region 5 tournament in Angola in December. ENDS