31 Mar 2022

The national boxing team has assembled for camp to prepare for the Zone IV tournament slated for Mozambique from April 18 to 23.

Head coach, Thebe Setlalekgosi, will  be asisted by Gibson Rauwe while Pearl Tsitsi is the second assistant coach and Boitumelo Taolo is the team manager.

In an interview, Setlalekgosi said they would use Zone IV to prepare for Commonwealth Games.

He stated that he was expecting great performance at the Zone IV competition.

 “But we are not going to put boxers under pressure since our main focus is Commonwealth Games,” he added.

He said a lot was still to be done before Commonwealth Games, adding that it was his first time to work with most of the boxers.

 “Understanding each other would make it a bit easier to work well together,” he said.

Setlalekgosi said he would have liked to have junior boxers in the team so that they could be exposed to the international stage.

“We need to develop young players who would represent the country in future,” he said.

However, Setlalekgosi said lack of funds was an obstacle to their mission.“If funds were available, it would have been important to prepare for these kind of events well in time and include junior players,” he aded.

He appealed to the nation to rally behind the team and urged parents to support their children who play sport.

“It is evident now that sport pays if taken seriously. Some are not academically gifted, but good at sport, so they should be encouraged as that could be their chance to make a better living,” he said.

He appealed to the private sector to assist national teams since government could not do it alone.
 

“BoBA had planned for a training camp in Thailand, but that was not possible due to lack of sponsorship,” he added.

Setlalekgosi assured the nation that, despite challenges, they would try by all means to raise the national flag high.

The men’s team is made up of Rajab Mohammed of Mafika Boxing Club, Kobamelo Molatlhegi (UB), George Molwantwa (BMC) and Treasure Moremi (DTCB).

Keamogetse Kenosi (DTCB) and UB’s Lethabo Modukanele make the women’s team. ENDS