The Botswana national boxing team claimed second position at the Zone 4 African Boxing Championship that were held from the 26th February to the 3rd of March 2025 in Maputo, Mozambique after scooping two gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze medals.
The championship features elite male and female boxers representing six nations from Zone 4. It was hosted by the Mozambique Boxing Federation in collaboration with the African Boxing Confederation (AFBC). The participating countries included Botswana, Mozambique, Seychelles, Eswatini and Lesotho.
Team Botswana secured second position after Mozambique from the five countries that participated. Botswana Boxing Association (BOBA) had sent a total of eight boxers to the competition consisting of four males and four males.
Minimumweight Molatlhegi and Women’s Lightweight Philip both won gold medals while Women’s Featherweight Modise and Women’s Light Welter Sekhutlo scooped silver medals. Modise (Bantumweight), Sekwaipe (Featherweight) and Makgoela (Lightweight) have brought home silver medals. Molatlhegi (Minimumweight) also scooped the best boxer of the tournament and Linda Tone got the best referee of the tournament.
In an interview, Team Manager Gaone Motswanaesi has expressed her satisfaction on the team’s performance, indicating that they prepared well in time and ample time of camping has led to the good performances.
According to the statement from AFBC dated 27 February 2025 the Zone 4 African Boxing Championship which brings together some of the finest boxing talent from Southern Africa marks a significant milestone in the region’s boxing calendar. The competition reportedly provides a vital platform for boxers to gain international experience, improve their rankings, and prepare for upcoming continental and global championships.
It continues to play a crucial role in developing boxing within the region, providing athletes and officials with opportunities to compete and grow within the sport. With intense bouts and rigorous training sessions underway, the event is said to be setting the stage for future boxing excellence in Africa.
According to AFBC, in parallel with the championships, a Referee and Judge (R&J) Star 1 & 2 certification course were conducted for 20 Zone 4 officials. The program, which started on February 26 until March 3, aimed to enhance the technical capacity of referees and judges, ensuring high officiating standards in regional and international competitions.
The male team was represented by Kobamelo Molatlhegi (48kg), Ribbin Modise (54kg), Mmoloki Sekwaipe (57kg) and Letlhogonolo Makgaola (60kg). The female team consisted of Gift Modise (57kg), Keobakeng Philip (60kg), Kutlwano Sekhutlo (63kg) and Dorcus Tlhabologo (54kg). The team was under the tutelage of Choga Ntoti (Francistown Boxing Club) and David Kemoitsholetse (EMG Boxing Club) while Gaone Motshwanaesi is the Team Manager.
Meanwhile, BOBA Secretary General Taolo Tlouetsile has told Times Sport that they are sending the ladies team to Niš, Serbia to compete at the 2025 IBA Women World Championships from 8th-18th March 2025. He said that the team is made of two officials being Choga Ntoti and Gaone Motshwanaesi while the two participating boxers are Phekie Bele and Gift Modise.
‘‘Our international Federation International Boxing Federation (IBA) assisted with US$10 000 to send the team to the Championship, if you recall well IBA previously funded our ladies with US$20 000 to Women World Championships in New Delhi, India in 2023,’’ he said.
