12 Jun 2017

National team boxers dominated Thebephatshwa Interclub tournament held at Thebephatshwa Airbase on June 10.

The tournament pitted the best among the best to help sharpen the national team already on camp for the upcoming African Championships billed for Congo Brazzaville from June 17-25.

The athletes who have been on camp for almost three weeks have shown character in the tournament winning almost all of their fights in different divisions.

In particular, in the Batam weight division (56kg), silver medalist of the Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 held last year in Angola, Tefo Matewa won 3-0 against Treasure Moremi of Diamond Trading Company Botswana boxing club.

Still in the same division, George Molwantwa who is also on camp beat Tumelo Ramorathudi of Thebephatshwa Airbase boxing club 3-0. 

This proved that the training camp was bearing fruit.

On the light weight(60 kg) division, National Championships champion who is also part of the national team, Kefentse Molalapata escaped with a whisker with a split point 2-1. 

His opponent proved to be a hard nut to crack although he managed to prevail thanks to the training camp.

Kabo Seitshiro, also on camp won his bout with a clean win of 3-0 against Kutlwano Ogaketse of DTCB boxing club on the light walter weight (64kg) category.

On the Walter Weight (69kg) category, bronze medalist of the Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 and also national team athlete, put up a very exciting fight against Kebonyekgotla Lefaso. 

He won it on Technical Knockout grounds.

On the middle Weight category (75kg), Zibani Chikanda of Eastern Military Garrison boxing club put up a good fight against national team athlete Monthusi Moitoi. 

Chikanda won the fight with a split point 2-1. 

Moitoi is the only player on camp who has lost his fight.

Though there was low turn up for ladies, Kelebonye Thatayamodimo of Thebephatshwa Air Base boxing club rose to the occasion to beat Irene Modikwa of EMG. 

Keamogetse Kenosi of (DTCB) and Aratwa Kesemang of UB boxing club who are on camp were not able to participate due to health reasons.

For his part, head coach for the national team, Lechedzani Luza said that he was happy with the performance displayed by his boys. 

“It shows that their preparations are somehow bearing good results,” he said.

He also stated that the tournament came at the right time when they were preparing the national team for the African championships, so the timing was right. 

On camp, he said they had been working on defense and movement, adding that his boys put up good fights and were a step further than their counter parts. 

Even their play was a bit more intense and professional when compared to the other fights.

Luza also pointed out that they had already selected athletes who were going to represent the country except for one division where together with the technical team they were yet to finalise the list.

He however said that he was worried that the girls who were set to represent the country did not play. 

He said that they missed a crucial chance to play as it was going to be a test match for them.

Nonetheless, he said that they performed well at the last interclub tournament two weeks back.

Only five boys against four girls will represent the country at the upcoming championships.

BoBA public relations officer Kenny Maragana was happy that the tournament was a success.

“To have 14 clubs that have honored the tournament and have our national players dominating is a success.”

He also reiterated that retention of good players in tournaments such as this one showed that the association was going in the right direction.

The tournament among others was aimed at improving the standard of boxing, talent identification and to sharpen high performing athletes that are supposed to represent the country at top level events. ENDS