Lekopanye Mooketsi
24 November 2008
The preliminary round of the Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) Keone Mooka Mageu national championships, kicked off on a high note at the Glen Valley Barracks on Saturday. A sizeable number of boxing enthusiasts turned up for the tournament.
Ikgopoleng booked himself a place in the semi- finals as he once again proved too strong for his opponent like last year. Zuze was adjudged the most promising boxer during last year's tournament.
In the first bout at Glen Valley preliminaries, Mogajane Bathusi of BMC eliminated Joseph Learabea of Thebephatswa in the light flyweight division. Another BMC boxer, Thekiso Khumoetsile proceeded to the semis, after defeating Lediretswe Kootshotse of Francistown in the flyweight.
In another flyweight bout, Glen Valley pugilist Kgomotso Bok's punches proved too strong for his opponent Thabo Motshewa of the Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB). In bantamweight, Golatwamang Seakolo of Glen Valley brushed aside Boitumelo Taolo of the Francistown Club. Elijah Mosokotso of Thebaphatswa thoroughly pummeled Abraham Moitshepi of Maun.
At the end of the third round, Moitshepi was exhausted from Mosokotso's blows. He barely survived the last round without getting knocked out.
Mmoloki Nogeng of DTCB won the featherweight against Kagsio Tebogo of BMC as Batsho Maripe of Tsholofelo overcame Gubule Syakayuwa of Sir Seretse Khama Barracks in the lightweight. Crowd favourite, George Botshabelo of Glen Valley did not disappoint in light welterweight against Obakeng Makabe of Francistown in a tough fight.
The last fight of the day in the welterweight division was between soldiers Arnold Tsele of Glen Valley and Kenny Maragana of SSKB. Maragana failed to rise to the occasion and Tsele easily beat him.
The semifinals of the tournament were held yesterday and the finals are scheduled for November 29 at UB. Botswana Breweries Limited has availed P106,000 to sponsor the tournament for the eighth year.
The champions will walk away with P11,000, the runners-up will get P6,000 and those who finish third will pocket P4,000. The defending champions are UB Club.
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