08 Sep 2020

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare on Monday offered support to the family of the terminally ill boxer who is also Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) national champion, Tefo Maitewa.

The 22-year-old is currently hospitalised at Princes Marina Hospital. Maitewa is fighting for his life after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor two months ago according to the CEO of Botswana National Olympic Committee, Tuelo Serufho.

Speaking at the family home in Molepolole, Minister Rakgare encouraged the family to stay strong and accept the fate that has befallen their son. He further encouraged them to hold steadfastly to the Lord for comfort through prayer.

He pointed out that his visit together with officials in the sporting fraternity was to offer the family comfort and encouragement so that they remained hopeful that the youthful boxer would recover go back to the ring.

However, he stated that it was time sports personalities who raised the country’s flag high were supported and taken care off even when their careers came to an end.  He said it was a disgrace to let such heroes and heroines retire into poverty. 

In the case of Maitewa, whom upon learning that he was the sole breadwinner for the family and that his condition has led the family to barely make ends meet, Minister Rakgare assured the family that the ministry would come up with a plan to aid the family.

He gave the family food hampers while they came up with a plan to assist the family in this time of need.

Botswana National Sports Council chairperson, Marumo Morule concurred with the minister that national icons needed to be looked after. He stated that when the Bantam Weight National Champion fell sick early this year, BNSC acted promptly to make sure the athlete got proper medical care although the processes were cumbersome at times. 

He said the sport body took care of all the medical bills from the onset.  He also encouraged the family to put their trust in God and be hopeful that Maitewa would get well.

Tefo’s mother, Gaone Maitewa could not hide her pain although she opted to remain strong for her son. She said she did not have much to say, but prayed that one day she would be able to see her son walk again.

She also said Tefo was the bread winner and that ever since his predicament the family has been struggling to make ends meet.  She also said Tefo fell sick this year around March when he started complaining of a severe head ache until he was hospitalised and surgery was carried out.

Since then he has been in and out of hospital and it has been two months since he was hospitalised.  Because of the new COVID-19 protocols she said the family was not allowed to visit him.

His coach, Phetogo Othusitse of Molepolole Boxing Club said he met Maitewa in 2015 when he was doing Form Four at Kgari Sechele Seniour Secondary School.  He said Maitewa’s talent was unquestionable. 

In the same year, Maitewa won a silver medal at the Botswana Institution of Sports Association (BISA).  He won gold in the same tournament in 2016 when he was doing Form Five.  His roots can be traced from Thebephatshwa Boxing Club before the formation of Molepolole Boxing Club last year.

Maitewa’s star started shining bright immediately he got on the ring from his junior secondary school days at Moruakgomo Junior Secondary School.  He was named best boxer of the year at the Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) national championship finals held in Molepolole last year November.

Prior to that, Maitewa proved his mettle when he defeated the defending champion of the bantam weight category, George Molwantwa during the semi-finals held in Lobatse with a 4-1 decision.  For some time he had been runner up to Molwantwa in the same category, and in some cases he also accompanied the national team as the second best in the category.

Before the tragedy, he had been part of the national team and has participated in various international tournaments in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers billed for next year August.  He was part of the national team at Senegal this year in February and has also participated in a tournament in Hungary this year.

As a result, Maitewa will not be part of the national team.  This was revealed by BoBA vice president and national team manager, Gilbert Khunwane and has since been replaced by Tshepang Kapinga. ends