Boxing to appoint new national team coach

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Wednesday May 22, 2013 00:00

 

Incumbent, Khumiso Ikgopoleng's term expired last year. 'Current coach Khumiso Ikgopoleng's term came to an end after last year's Olympic Games and the (BoBa) president will make an announcement on the executive committee's decision about a new appointment,' BoBA publicity and information secretary Willoughby Kemoen said.

He however declined to comment on the possibility of Ikgopoleng's reappointment or if a new coach would be ushered in. ' The president will make that announcement in his speech tomorrow, I can not reveal any names now,' he said. He said after appointing the new coach, two assistants would be appointed to work with him during his tenure.

The new coach is expected to guide the team until the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in Brazil. Kemoen explained that BoBA runs its house in a four- year cycle, thus the technical team work on a four-year contract after which their performances are reviewed in order to map a way forward. Ikgopoleng, a former Olympian who represented Botswana at the 2004 Athens Olympics, took over from Johannes Ditlhabang in 2010.

Kemoen said Ikgopoleng has done relatively well since his appointment. In his first tournament in charge, Botswana went on a rampage, sweeping eight gold medals at the 2011 Zone IV championships where he was named coach of the tournament.  Further successes were recorded at the 2011 All-Africa Games in Mozambique where the boxing team contributed two medals to the 16-medal haul.  The team however did not perform well in international competitions including the 2011 World Boxing Championships, where not a single boxer made it to the medal stages. 

The championships were used as the initial qualifiers for the London Olympics. Ikgopoleng then guided the team to the Africa Olympic boxing qualifiers where only Oteng Oteng qualified. Oteng was eliminated from the Olympics in the first round. The coach however redeemed himself last December guiding Oteng and Tirafalo Seoko to an all-star Serbian Open tournament where some boxing powerhouses competed. The boxers won gold medals and Oteng was named boxer of the tournament while Ikgopoleng was named coach of the tournament.

Another possible candidate for the post is retired former national team boxer Lechedzani 'Master' Luza.  Lately Luza has been advancing his coaching qualifications and looks ready to take on a bigger challenge. Just last year, he advanced to a three-star status as a coach after successfully attaining his Diploma in International Coaching in Budapest, Hungary. BoBA endorsed him for the three-month course that was funded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Luza has been successful on the local scene where he is the head coach of the UB/Tsholofelo Boxing Club, home of the all-conquering three-time Boxer of the Year, Oteng. He has also previously coached junior teams.

Meanwhile, Kemoen said the executive committee would present a report on the first quarter of the year to the affiliates. The report is expected to update on progress made regarding women boxing, national team competitions and training camps as well as the upcoming Zone IV senior championships in May. The assembly will also review the association's constitution with a view to align it with that of International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA).

Regarding AIBA, the assembly will have a chat on the World Series of Boxing, which is AIBA's own professional version of boxing. BoBA will also consider implementing AIBA's new rule of amateur boxers fighting without headgear.