04 Apr 2017

 The love and thirst for boxing has seen Phuthego Mathaithai, a retired soldier, drill out of school youth in Ghanzi Township on the trade. It all started in 2009 when a group of boxing enthusiasts from both Ghanzi and Itekeng schools solicited Mathaithai’s services to be their coach, a request he readily accepted.

“My love for the sport coupled with experience having been a boxer during my junior school days here in Ghanzi Senior School sealed the deal.”

The marriage of the two schools saw the subsequent birth of Ghanzi Boxing club which is an affiliate of Botswana Boxing Association (BOBA).

According to Mathaithai, the primarily objective of the club is to give boxers basic skills and produce well rounded sports men and women within the code.

He mentioned lack of sponsorship as one of the challenges that stalled progression at the club.

That withstanding, Mathaithai said the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development assistance, though limited, remained the club’s sole sponsor .

Efforts to try and ask for more sponsors is yet to bear fruit. The club has relatively done well during tournaments considering lack of training equipment it is faced with.

In 2011, the club went for broke during Botswana Games in the process winning four medals; one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

The team also participated in the Mooka Mageu where it scooped position three out of 16 competing teams.

The club prides itself with having groomed celebrated boxers among them; Mmusi Tswiige, Tshepho Mbewe and Moemedi Keodirile. ENDS