14 Mar 2024

As boxers take to the ring from today at the ongoing 2024 African Games edition, all eyes will be on the 2019 African Games’ champions, Keamogetse Kenosi and Rajab Mahommed to see if they will defend their titles. In 2019 in Morocco, Kenosi defeated Marine Camara from Mali 5-0 in the 57kg featherweight, while Otukile also won 5-0 against Kenyan Hassan Shaffi Bakari in the 52kg flyweight.

The 2024 edition is a different game and the two boxers are aware that they will be targeted by all boxers, who happen to be in the boxing ring with them. Equally, they are not resting on their laurels, and Kenosi said her aim was to defend her title.

She said she was aware of her opponents; one of them was Marcelat Sakobi, to whom she lost 4-1 during the Olympic qualifiers in the women’s 57kg quarterfinals “Before that I had defeated her twice and she should not make a mistake of taking that 4-1 results to the games, because she would be in trouble.

 Look, during the Olympic qualifiers I was not fit, but this time all I can say is ‘bring it on’,” she said.

Mahommed, on the other hand, said he had been working very hard at training.

He said he was aware that all the boxers he was bound to come up against would have a single aim, to defeat him.

“They studied my strategy before, hence I have not been doing very well, but let these Games begin.

They are going to sweat and I can assure you that I am going to defend my championship,” he said. The team’s captain George Molwantwa said ‘it's all systems go’ for Team Botswana, adding that they had prepared very well during their two-week training camp in Zambia.

 “I think we have been preparing very well. We have been in camp since January, so the time is now to execute what we have been doing for the past few months,” he said.

“My mission is to finish in the finals, and looking at our preparations, I am confident of a medal,” he said.

The team coach Thebe Setlalekgosi said the squad was a mixture of experience and new blood, with some making their debut in the Games.

 He said Mmoloki Sekwaipe and Phekie Bele were youngsters who had aggression and determination to succeed; hence he wanted to give them exposure to prepare them for future competitions. Botswana will be represented by Mahommed, Molwantwa, Kobamelo Molatlhegi, Mmoloki Sekwaipe, Kenosi and Pheki Bele. ENDS