LOCAL BOXERS IN SERBIAN TEST

The Botswana national boxing team is expected to endured its toughest test before the Olympic Games when they compete at a tournament scheduled for Serbia from 22nd until 28th April.

The team comprises of reigning African champions Rajab Otukile and Keamogetse Kenosi 57kg.

The two are accompanied by George Molwantwa for the tournament hosted in the capital city Belgrade. However the team has travelled without their head coach Master Luza who is reportedly held up by work commitments. In Luza’s place will be the equally capable assistant coach Choga

Ntoti. In an interview this week, the association mouthpiece TaoloTlouetsile said that the coach will rejoin the team on a later date, “the coach did not go with the team due to work commitments and I can confirm that the BNOC is working round the clock to make sure he is released from work.”

The technical department includes Ntoti, fitness and conditioning technician,Boago Lentshaletse, team manager Gilbert Khunwane, psychologist Kagiso Tlhabano, while Dr Maswabi and Coach Luza are expected to join the team at a later date.

According to Tlouetsile, the Botswana Boxing Association could have sent a much larger team if funds permitted. “Now our focus is Tokyo.

We sent 3 boxers and we believe that they are going to benefit a lot from this tournament.”

In addition, he said he did not know countries that will be present at the tournament but admitted the tournament will be intense and competitive “I can’t confirm until we see the entries but what you can expect mostly is those boxers from European and Asian countries,” he said.

The experienced Otukile recently qualified for the Olympics by way of international rankings which meant he joined ,Keamogetse Kenosi in the Botswana Olympic team. Otukile is expected to ground running and begin his preparations for the Olympics as early as yesterday while Kenosi on the other hand would also want to stay sharp ahead of the Olympic Games.