While other sporting codes have already resumed competitions, the Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) on the other hand are still planning for their return to action.
The Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) recently allowed a number of sporting codes including boxing to resume training and competitions provided they comply with the set health regulations and are cleared by the Commission
BoBa Publicity Secretary, Taolo Tlouetsile this week told The Patriot Sport that they are still preparing to make sure that they comply with the set health regulations. The association has however proposed to BNSC for them to resume competitions next month hopeful that they will be ready by then. Tlouetsile indicated that if successful they will on the 25th of July 2020 resume their Inter Club Tournaments. The Publicity Secretary could not confirm as to whether their affiliating boxing clubs have resumed training noting that the latter are also required to comply with the set health regulations.
Besides local competitions BoBA like other sporting codes are having their eyes all fixed on the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games which are now scheduled for July 23rd to August 8th. The country is expected to field about six sporting codes at the Olympics comprising of Athletics, Boxing, Judo, Karate, Swimming and Weightlifting. The association has already qualified one boxer,Keamogetse Kenosi who secured a spot in the women’s flyweight division after scoring victory at the 2020 African Qualification Tournament in Diamniadio, Senegal.
Tlouetsile has revealed that they are also still vying to qualify four more boxers to join Keamogetswe for the Olympic Games. The four are Aratwa Kasemang (F), Rajab Mahommed (M), Tefo Maitewa (M) and George Molwantwa (M). The boxers after failing to qualify at the African Olympic Qualifiers in Senegal early this year await to try another luck at the World Olympic Qualifiers. The World Qualification event gives athletes a second chance to qualify for the Olympics and is only open to those boxers who have not yet qualified for the Games. New dates and place for the world qualifiers event are yet to be announced. The event was initially scheduled to be held from the 13-24 of May 2020 but had to be cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Owing to the worldwide pandemic Tlouetsile has indicated that the association will not be able to organise international camp for the athletes. The boxers he said will instead camp locally to prepare for the qualifiers event as well as the Olympics. The athletes are yet to go into camp as BoBA is still awaiting a new camping programme from their National Team Manager, Gilbert Khunwane and Head Coach, Lechedzani Luza. Tlouetsile indicated that the boxers have however been keeping fitness through their individual trainings under the guidance of their coach. The Publicity Secretary said their focus going forward will be for the remaining boxers to qualify for the Olympics and also to make sure that Kenosi is ready for the Olympics.