The hard-punching boxer melted the hearts of Batswana when she became the first member of Team Botswana to win a medal at the just ended Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the United Kingdom in July.
She scooped the medal after beating Sri Lanka's Nadeeka Pushpa in the women’s minimum weight category (45kg-48kg). Modukanele is not just an average boxer as once she steps into the ring, she takes complete control.
She told Mmegi Sport that back in 2016 while a student at the University of Botswana, she was kind of frustrated about life. “I had this feeling that there had to be more to life than just going to school and going back home, then sleep and repeat the same process every day.
I decided that I needed a change.
I thought of joining a club at school maybe like the environmental club but then thought why not do something that will keep me busy and fit so I went for sport. Then I thought instead of just keeping fit, maybe I should find something that can also help me with self-defence,” she said. Modukanele said being a woman is not always safe in the streets.
She said to top it off she wanted to be able to achieve something big out of it, which is how her dream to reach the Olympics came about. “So armed with those reasons, I went through the sport list at UB.
At first, I wanted mixed martial arts (MMA), but nowhere could I access it near me and it was not on the list, then I thought of kickboxing; same story and eventually, I landed on boxing.
I found the number for the coach, Master Luza, who I had no idea who he was at the time and called him up immediately,” she said. The next day Modukanele was at the boxing gym watching from the sidelines and appreciating this new sport. Luza had made it clear to her that it was a male-dominated sport and very intense and he wanted her to appreciate it first.
The following month she was in the gym training and six years later she is a Commonwealth medallist. "Winning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth was amazing but bittersweet because I would have loved to get gold but I got what I got and that is still amazing. I have gotten a little attention after that but even that sizzles down so things are pretty much back to normal.
We refocus and target bigger goals,” she said. Modukanele said three months after training she was in the ring but had hoped that would have happened a bit sooner, however, after her official weigh-in she got a walkover. “I do not have a favourite punch, whichever one lands, I go for it. I really do not have a favourite combination. I just do what looks right and works at the moment.
I also do not have a favourite stance but my natural stance is orthodox,” Modukanele said. After a few months, in 2017 the energetic boxer received her first national team call-up, an exciting moment for her. Modukanele said she was anxious because the training at the national team camp was different and more intense. She said people who had told her about the tough training were telling the truth.
Despite her success, Modukanele has no desire of turning pro (professional boxing). She intends to end her boxing career at the amateur level and she plans to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. She said after the games she will hang her gloves and focus on other aspects of life such as family and working career.
When asked if, in her own opinion, the sport was getting enough support, Modukanele said a lot needs to be done starting from individuals to communities, the government and private sector. “We are still very behind in terms of progress. Batswana should try their best to support their children emotionally and financially. They should not stop their children from joining sports because we need more competitors out there and not only that but your child could make a serious career out of it. We also cannot always rely on the government so as a country, as a people we need to do more. "Just going out there and parting ways with P10, P40 whatever entry fee can go a long way towards aiding athletes financially,” Modukanele said.
She said the government tries where it can but she urges the leadership to think outside the box to build more relationships with the private sector and channel some more funding into sport, invest in sport science, and development and research. “And with the private sector, all we can do is impress them so that they assist financially or otherwise. Aid comes in many forms, it can be routine physio sessions, access to facilities, and accommodation even a monthly food combo is something.
I really want to see Botswana get to a place where all athletes from all sporting codes can eke a living out of it,” said the eloquent speaker. Modukanele is a full-time employee, working as a procurement officer in the Ministry of Health. She is the daughter of Grace and Ntoti Modukanele in Ramotswa. “I have two sisters, one is my cousin who I consider my sister because she has been with us for the longest, Tsholofelo.
I am in the middle with the youngest being Letso,” she added. Her coach, Luza describes Modukanele as an industrious boxer. “She is very hard working, very passionate, and so disciplined in every aspect (training and sleeping patterns). She is a true professional,” Luza said.
FACT FILE
Full names: Lethabo Modukanele
Place of birth: Ramotswa
Date of birth: August 25, 1996
Sport: Boxing
Club: UB Tsholofelo
Boxing career highlight: Commonwealth Games bronze medal
Stance: Orthodox
Profession: Procurement officer
Hobbies: Gardening and reading
Role model: I do not have one particular role model, just a whole bunch of people I look up to for different aspects.
Favourite meal: Whatever is delicious
Any sport besides boxing: Netball and I enjoy watching swimming, diving, and gymnastics but do not ask me statistics or who is who in those sports. I know nothing.
