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Female boxers shine at Africa tourney

The AFCB Africa Boxing Championship, held in Maputo Mozambique recently will be a tournament to remember for Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA), after four female boxers sent to participate in the championship scooped four medals for team Botswana.[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”1,2,3″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]

Olympian Keamogetse Sadie Kenosi won gold in the women’s 57Kg, after defeating Sakobi Marcelat of Cote D’ivoire in the finals. On the other hand, Aratwa Kasemang who earlier this year turned into professional boxing bagged a silver after losing to Algeria’s Khelif Imane in the finals. Commonwealth bronze medalist, Lethabo Modukanele together with Bheki Bele claimed bronze medals in the 48 and 54kg respectively.

BoBA spokesperson Moitshepi Nkabiti said the inclusion of women in the sport has not been easy over the years hence they take so much encouragement from the results. Nkabiti told WeekendSport that a milestone has been achieved; but a lot still needs to be done to continue empowering and developing more female athletes.

Nkabiti also highlighted that the BoBA has over the years prioritized including women in its structures. He said the association has commissions in which they have put women in order to ensure that they also take charge of developing the sport in the country. He also pointed out that should the association manage to invest more in women, in coming years, Botswana could become a powerhouse in the continent.

“The performance from the Africa Championship is incredible, remember from the just ended commonwealth games, our only medal from team Botswana, came from Lethabo Modukanele. This shows direction and a good path on the side of women in the sport,” he said. Nkabiti also underscored that for the team to have performed the way they did, having a team manager and also an assistant coach who is a female will go a long way in empowering girls to take part in sport.

The performance also means that the female team has overwhelmed the male’s side which managed to win only two medals through George Molwantwa, who bagged a silver in the 54kg; while Kobamelo Molatlhegi bagged home a bronze medal in the 48Kg category.

Addressing the media this week in Gaborone, team captain Lethabo Modukanele indicated that their performance was very good. This was against the challenges they faced before the championship. Modukanele said the majority of boxers were mentally tired as they did not rest since they returned from the 2022 Commonwealth games. However Modukanele believes that with support from Batswana, the team can perform beyond expectation.

The African Champion in the Women’s 57Kg category Keamogetse Kenosi, told WeekendSport that they went to the Africa Championship with an ambitious, ‘fight until the last ring bell’. She said the goal was to improve on their previous performance given that they just returned from the Commonwealth games. “The goal was to defend my African Championship and I am happy that we managed to do that and it feels so good,” said Keamogetse Kenosi in an interview.

Sadie as she is affectionately known also shared that the performance of the female boxers proved that boxing is not a male sport, as girls and women can also own it. ”I encourage women to come in numbers. Boxing is a sport, we don’t kill each other, but we play it safe,” she said.

Meanwhile BoBA spokesperson Moitshepi Nkabiti said they still need more females to join the sport. “There has been a stereotype that boxing is a sport for males only, and our female boxers did well by breaking boundaries. As such we need more women to join because having a few females in the national team is not enough. There are so many categories of boxing that women take part in, that’s why we need them to join in large numbers,” he pointed out.

With only few months left before the 2024 Paris Olympics Qualifiers which start next year January, the National Boxing Head Coach Thebe Setlalekgosi told the media in Gaborone, that despite the marvelous achievement by his team at the Africa Championship, there is a lot that still needs to be done to prepare the boxers for the Olympic qualifiers. Setlalekgosi reiterated that for his team to be ready for the qualifiers it needs to be the best in the continent.

Setlalekgosi stressed that local boxers need to be given more support both from the government and the private sector, in order for them to fully concentrate and aim for the podium finish. “Majority of these boxers are unemployed and as such they are not able to sustain themselves, as such this affects them psychologically. I believe if the Sports Ministry can find them jobs they can perform better, because they have shown that they have the potential to be amongst the best,” he reiterated. In addition, the association’s spokesperson called on the private sector to come on board and invest in the sport.

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BFA slow-stepping efforts in Wilson’s quest for citizenship?

18th March 2024

A quarter of a year ago, Zebras’ strategist, Didier Gomes Da Rosa, took a decisive step by enlisting midfielder Brandon Wilson, who flexes his soccer prowess at Ha Noi Football Club (FC) in Vietnam.

Yet, the 27-year-old sensation found himself benched before the game even started, due to his Australian nationality, despite his roots firmly planted in Gaborone, Botswana.

Fast forward to today, and Wilson’s name is still missing from the latest Zebras’ lineup for the forthcoming four-nation friendly extravaganza set to unfold in Madagascar.

Pundits from the local football arena argue that this tournament, starring The Zebras alongside Madagascar, Rwanda, and Burundi as hosts, presented a golden ticket for Wilson to unveil his skills, merge his playstyle with his teammates, and pass down his seasoned insights to the squad.

Looking ahead, The Zebras face a rugged path in their 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Group, battling titans like Algeria, Somalia, Guinea, and Uganda—teams studded with Europe-based talents. Integrating Wilson into the team now would be nothing short of strategic.

Amidst this saga, a ray of hope shined through a High Court ruling, suggesting the Botswana government’s nod towards dual citizenship, potentially giving the BFA the nudge it needed to expedite Wilson’s case.

Yet, as 2023 unfurls, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Anna Mokgethi, hinted at a six-month timeline to legislating this change. “We’re laying down the legal and procedural groundwork to enable dual citizenship. This process will span at least six months.

This waiting game could be pegged to aligning with the court of appeal’s decision.

“This buffer is designed to ensure a seamless transition, enabling talents like Wilson to clinch their Botswana passports and don the Zebras jersey,”

On the V.League 1 Table (Vietnam) – 2023/24 front, Wilson’s squad, Ha Noi FC, is holding sixth place after 13 showdowns, boasting 19 points—a commendable feat for their freshman year in Vietnam’s Elite League.

Since his leap to Ha Noi FC on September 5, 2023, Wilson has left his mark on 15 matches across domestic and AFC Champions League arenas, an impressive feat for his inaugural season.

In a recent WeekendSport dialogue, Da Rosa sung praises of Wilson’s gameplay. “Wilson’s mastery of the field, his spatial awareness, and ball reception, earmark him as a midfield marvel. His strategic positioning is a lesson in discipline, a skill set our team can greatly benefit from.

“He’s a crucial cog in our quest toward the 2026 World Cup dream,” Da Rosa said.

 

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Kemoeng’s departure opens doors for School sports – BOSETU

18th March 2024

The departure of Kitso Kemoeng from the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture has been met with a sigh of relief by many, particularly by the Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU). Kemoeng’s tenure as Permanent Secretary was marked by a lack of progress and engagement on the issue of reinstating school sports, which has been a crucial aspect of child development in Botswana.

BOSETU had accused Kemoeng of being a stumbling block to the resuscitation of school sports, citing his arrogant and anti-engagement attitude towards the issue. His transfer to the Botswana Public Service College has been seen as a positive development by the union, as it signals a clear message that non-delivery and lack of vision will not be tolerated within the government.

The union has expressed confidence in the new Permanent Secretary, Bright John, who is expected to bring a fresh perspective and understanding of the importance of sports and culture in the holistic development of children. The absence of school sports in Botswana has had a detrimental impact on the youth and the development of sports in the country, and it is imperative that immediate action is taken to reinstate these programs.

According to BOSETU the departure of Kemoeng from the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture is a step in the right direction towards reviving school sports in Botswana. The union and other stakeholders are hopeful that under the leadership of Bright John, progress will be made in ensuring the well-being and development of the youth through sports. It is time to breathe a sign of relief and look forward to a brighter future for school sports in Botswana.

 

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Will Makhwengwe’s exit halt Tafic’s remarkable streak?

24th February 2024

The abrupt severance of ties between Tafic Football Club and its erstwhile commander-in-chief, Philemon Makhwengwe, colloquially celebrated as the “Spin Doctor”, has sent ripples through the football aficionado community, given his laudable stewardship in the 2023/24 Botswana Premier League (BPL) crusade. The narrative of Matjimenyenga, as Tafic is affectionately dubbed, narrates a saga of resilience, having faced the ignominy of relegation to the Debswana First Division North on two occasions prior.

The chronicle of their fall from grace in 2018, settling at a dismal 14th place with a record marred by more losses than victories, delineates a club in dire need of strategic revival. Fast-forward to the present campaign, and the transformation under Makhwengwe’s aegis has been nothing short of remarkable. At the cessation of 16 rounds, Tafic perched at the fifth position with 24 points is a testament to an emboldened renaissance.

However, the plot thickened on the 20th of February, 2024, as Tafic pronounced the departure of Makhwengwe from his coaching pedestal via a Facebook communiqué, a move that bewildered the football-watching public. Discrepancies surfaced, with reports attributing his departure to discord with the club’s upper echelons over proposed adjustments within the technical team, painting a picture of internal discord.

Makhwengwe, a tactician revered for his prowess in architecting footballing triumphs, has been instrumental in Tafic’s ascent from the quagmire of league standings to a commendable sixth position. This leaves the footballing realm in suspense over Tafic’s trajectory post-Makhwengwe, especially after their recent conquest over Gaborone United, thrusting them into a formidable league position.

Amidst this backdrop of controversy, where Makhwengwe’s own assertions conflict with the official narrative – oscillating between resignation and dismissal – the saga unfolds with layers of intrigue. The spectacle calls into question the capacity of Tafic to sustain their impressive run. The precedence set by Cote D’Ivoire’s astonishing turnaround at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a managerial upheaval offers a glimmer of unpredictability inherent in football, though juxtaposing club football dynamics with international fixtures holds its own set of complexities.

As Tafic grapples with the loss of one of Botswana’s most esteemed coaching figures, the overarching question looms: How will this episode influence their fortunes as the season wades into its critical junctures? With the BPL already witnessing a carousel of coaching departures, Tafic’s saga adds a compelling chapter to the unfolding narrative of a league characterized by flux and fervor. The departure of Makhwengwe not only marks a pivotal moment for Tafic but underscores the perennial dance between stability and upheaval in the quest for footballing glory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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