Amateur boxing action returns
Under normal circumstance, this time of the year sees the Botswana Boxing Associations ( BoBA) holding its national championships to crown champions in the numerous divisions of the amateur ranks. However, these are not normal circumstance and there hasn’t been interclub tournament for close to 18 months. Nevertheless, there seems to be a glimmer of hope for young boxers who are eager to return to the ring and multitudes of supporters, thirsting for the sport code.
Newly elected BoBA president, Gilbert Khunwane, this week confirmed that amateur boxing action is likely to return as early as 16th October under strict Covid - 19 protocols. “According to the last weekend meeting, our first interclub tournament of the year is on 16th October,” he said. Quizzed on Covid - 19 protocols when the action returns to the ring, Khunwane said: “We are still on it but this time around, things are going to be different. Clubs will be expected submit names and divisions of the boxers well in advance.”
Following the BoBA AGM a few weeks back, the Association’s old executive committee officially handed over the reins to the new committee this week, setting in motion the sporting code’s emergence from the COVID - 19 pandemic. Over and above the interclub tournaments returning, BoBA plans to host the Re ba bona Ha talent identification festivals.
Through a statement this week, BoBA confirmed that the association affiliates have been notified through writing, attached with Covid - 19 guidelines. The affiliates were advised to send their team lists prior to participation for a matching so that numbers can also be controlled. Meanwhile, the Association executive committee has resolved not to send a team to participate at world championships slated for Serbia to be held between October and November. “The reasons being that we want to start with local competitions/ activities,” a statement from BoBA reads. Meanwhile, BoBA is preparing a team that will compete at the AUSC Region 5 Games. Preparations for another camp is still underway as the intention is to hold two concurrent camps for boxers in the North and South respectively during weekends so that there is continuity as most of them are students and preparing for their exams.