Four vie for boxing’s top post
Four candidates will spar off in an election contest for the Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) presidency. BoBA will hold its annual general meeting (AGM) on August 28, 2021.
Vice president, Gilbert Khunwane will battle it out against the incumbent secretary-general, Moremi Lefiri, former executive committee member, Dirang Thipe and Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) board member and former BoBA president, Michael Moroka.
The incumbent, Thato Patlakwe is not seeking re-election after serving two terms. Khunwane said he wants a step-up after serving as Patlakwe’s number two.
“It has been a long time boxing being led by someone who does not know anything about boxing, where it comes from or where it should go. Some of the people including other candidates who want to lead boxing, want to serve their own interest not the sport,” he said.
Khunwane said he understands boxing and what the boxers are going through including clubs. The other candidate, Thipe was suspended from the executive committee in 2018 when he was serving as vice president.
Khunwane said he intends to bring back the glory days to boxing. “Youth development has been forgotten, coach development is neglected and there is no development of club administrators.
Everything is at zero development. Sponsorship is silent but there are many sponsors in this country,” he said. For his part, Lefiri said being secretary-general for four years allowed him to understand the running of the sport and how sport could be developed moving forward.
“That period has given me the much-needed experience. I want continuity of BoBA programmes from 2017 to date. COVID-19 affected our programmes and some stopped completely. I have been an administrator and I know our progress.
When I am president, it would be easier to continue with the programmes,” he said. Lefiri said as boxing they are already targeting improved performance at Paris 2024. “I want to accelerate boxing development. Programmes such as Re Ba Bona Ha and Out of School Youth have halted, but they are very important in boxing.
I believe in development and that is where my focus will be. There is a need to have strong grassroots development in order to produce international champions. That includes coaches,” Lefiri said.
He said there are committees and commissions which are also non-functional, which need to be given more responsibilities and autonomy.
Lefiri said in some codes, the lower structures are not delegated properly but results are expected from them. “I want to accelerate technical development for all BoBA officials.
They were last trained at the last Zone IV. I have already engaged with International Boxing Association (AIBA) to assist us in training officials. The plan is already in motion,” Lefiri said.
He added there should be proper financial prudence. Lefiri said from 2017 up to date, BoBA has kept clean financial records. He said that was not the case before Patlakwe took over. He said there was a point when the association owed P500,000. Lefiri said BoBA is a big brand and it should be able to attract sponsors.
He said there should be operational national team structures. Former president, Moroka was not available to comment due to a bereavement in the family. Other candidates: Vice president: Othusitse Mogotsakgotla and Hlanganani Nkutusang Digwere. Secretary-general: Taolo Tloetsile and Irene Ntelamo. Competition coordinator: Tsheko Phetogo and Mathata Thingwane. Publicity secretary: Thabiso Boefelo and Moitshepi Nkabiti. Additional members: Boitumelo Taolo and Peter Tshenyego.