Paris 2024 appears bleak for Botswana Boxing
As local boxers continue to gear up for what could be their toughest challenge of securing a spot at the prestigious Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the opportunities of making it to the biggest sporting event in the world, scheduled for Paris, France later this year, seem to be wearing thin. Botswana Boxing Association ( BoBA) president, Gilbert Khunwane, expressed the urgency, stating that his association is running against time to ensure that some of their athletes make it to the international showpiece.
Addressing BoBA affiliates and stakeholders at the Association’s Ordinary General Meeting this past weekend in Selibe Phikwe, Khunwane highlighted financial hurdles and stiff competition as they strive to make their mark. He emphasized that financial challenges are one of the major obstacles in our path to Paris 2024 qualification.
One of the major setbacks facing Botswana’s boxing team is the significant reduction in funding from the Botswana National Sport Commission ( BNSC). Khunwane lamented: “Classified as a tier 2 sporting code, BoBA saw its funding slashed from P750k to P490k for the current financial year. This decrease in financial support has impacted our ability to adequately prepare and compete at international events, including crucial Olympic qualifiers.”
The road to Paris 2024 has been fraught with missed opportunities
for Botswana’s boxing team. “Last year, the team failed to attend the AFBC Championships in Cameroon due to financial constraints, a setback that disrupted our preparation for the Olympic qualifiers,” he recalls. Disappointingly, despite their best efforts, none of the fighters advanced to the semifinal stage at the qualifiers in Senegal.
Compounding their financial woes, Botswana’s boxing community received another blow when primary sponsor, Debswana announced they would not be sponsoring the annual BoBA Awards due to a decline in diamond sales. Khunwane acknowledged the setback, stating, “This loss of sponsorship further underscores the challenges faced by the local boxing scene as we struggle to secure
much- needed financial backing to support our athletes.”
Despite the challenges they face, Khunwane remains hopeful. “With support from the BNSC and the Botswana National Olympic Committee ( BNOC), the team is regrouping and strategizing for the upcoming Africa Games, which will serve as a crucial stepping stone towards the final Olympic qualifiers in Thailand,” he stated. Additionally, individual boxers such as Kobamelo Molatlhegi and Phekie Bele have been awarded Zebra Athletes’ Fund allocations, providing a glimmer of financial support for their training and preparation.
“Despite the challenges, we are striving to overcome obstacles and propel Botswana’s boxing onto the global stage.”