Not so long ago, Botswana boxing stood as one of the country’s foremost sporting codes along with the likes of athletics.
The sheer number of quality boxers it produced annually was on par with the best across the continent and perhaps the world. Products of this sporting code were household names, and rightly so!
France Mabiletsa, the second ever Motswana athlete to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games, a feat achieved way back in 1994 came from the code. Other household names from the sport’s yesteryears include Dintwa Sloca, Johannes Ditlhabang, Bruno Nyathi, Elliot Mmila and Thuso ‘Scud’ Khubamang, just to mention but a few.
Khubamang, now turned politician and professional boxing promoter, went on to become Botswana’s first ever professional boxer. Following this crop of boxers followed the likes of Healer Modiradilo, the Setlalekgosi twin brothers Thato and Thapelo, Biki Malaolo, the late Herbert Nkabiti, Khumiso Ikgopoleng, Lechedzani Luza, Gilbert Khunwane and Mmoloki Nogeng.
The recent crop includes the likes of Thato Batshegi, Oteng Oteng, Tirafalo Seoko, the Bagwasi brothers Kagiso and Kabelo as well as Rajab Mahommed, Keamogetse ‘Sadie’ Kenosi and Aratwa Kasemang. And this here, is where the production line of Botswana’s finest boxers, though not exhaustive, comes to a halt.
In the bygone years when these boxers were active, Botswana was a boxing powerhouse in the region and the continent. No little wonder that at the time, boxing managed, even when others failed, to attract sponsors to its fold. This is now all memories in time.
At the moment, the sport has fallen from grace. Sponsors have all left. Even worse, due to non-performance, boxing, once in the top-tier along with athletics and football, has fallen down the pecking order. It is now in the second-tier and its annual financial allocation has been cut down to go with its placement.
Botswana boxing’s fall from grace was even more apparent during its recent national championships. The semifinals, scheduled to be held in an open space at the Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB) were cancelled after just a few bouts. The event had started very late due to excessive heat and out of caution for the boxers’ welfare, only a few bouts took place.
The competitors, were mostly unknown youngsters. while Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) Secretary General Taolo Tlouetsile delighted in what he believes was improved performances. Speaking to this publication’s sister paper, The Telegraph, the BoBA Secretary General said the championships were very competitive and showcased a good quality of the tactics. He is of the view that the sport is growing and will soon reclaim its position as one of the best performing sporting codes in the local sporting arena.
His sentiments are not shared by other administrators, both past and present. According to them, while there was a good number of talented and upcoming boxers, the competition was not up to the high standards of yesteryears. “There is a lot of emerging young talented boxers, but their level is still way below what should be expected,” one administrator says.
According to the administrator, boxing has lost all its luster. This, the administrator says, can be seen from the sport’s ranking in the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC)’s tier ranking system. “When the tier system was introduced, boxing and athletics were together in tier one. Boxing has now fallen to tier two because its performances have not been convincing over the past few years.”
Commenting on the matter, a former BoBA administrator says boxing needs ‘to go back to the crossroads to see where all got lost.’ “Just a few years ago, we had sponsors and were in the top tier of the BNSC tier system along with athletics. Right now, athletics is growing and will soon be granted some autonomy and have its own secretariat like football. Boxing on the other hand is on a downward spiral and is now on tier two.”
On the issue of sponsors, the administrator says it is all linked to the dip in performances. “Corporates do not want to be associated with non-performing sporting codes. They cannot associate with a sporting code which continues to decline while they are putting money into it.”
The administrator believes it is no coincidence that the departure of sponsorships came after the production line of quality boxers came to a halt. Regarding what needs to be done, the administrator says taking into consideration where boxing is currently at, it will be a Herculean task to take it back to its glory days.
“For it to get back to where it was, the first thing will be to put back at the helm administrators who know what they are doing. We need administrators who know how to make and execute strategies to lead this sport.”
