Leemisa Thuseho
NATIONAL boxing team coach, Meshack ‘Switch’ Letsoepa, has expressed confidence in the nine boxers who have earned selection into the senior national team.
The Lesotho Boxing Association (LeBA) hosted its national championships from 28 February to 1 March at Makoanyane Barracks. The tournament also served as a selection platform for the best-performing boxers in each weight category to form a long list for national team consideration.
The nine boxers selected are: Retšelisitsoe Kolobe (48kg), Tanki Nkune (51kg), Mathealira Seholoholo (54kg), Bokang Matjele (57kg), Toka Litabe Butha (60kg), Tšepo Setona (63.5kg), Poane Khoahle (67kg), Refiloe Thai (71kg) and Mailane Moalosi (75kg).
LeBA will draw from this pool when selecting teams for various international competitions.
Letsoepa Lesotho Times this week that he was pleased with the quality of the selected boxers, describing them as consistent and experienced fighters.
He said most of them have competed on the international stage, with the exception of Khoahle and Nkune, who are among the new faces in the national team set-up.
“I am satisfied. This is a very strong team, and most of them are experienced boxers,” Letsoepa said.
“This is not a final team for any particular event, but having them in the national team set-up means we now have a solid pool from which to select boxers for various international competitions.”
Letsoepa said one of the major events they are targeting is the 2026 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 2 August.
“We have the Commonwealth Games coming up, and we are fortunate to have the likes of Seholoholo performing well in the 54kg weight category, which is one of the recognised Commonwealth Games divisions.
“He has been doing well locally and regionally, and we hope he will win us something,” Letsoepa said.
The coach also praised the consistent performances of Litabe, who last year represented Lesotho at the International Boxing Association (IBA) Men’s World Boxing Championships held at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in December.
Although Litabe suffered an early knockout in that tournament, Letsoepa believes the exposure and experience gained have contributed positively to his development.
However, Letsoepa pointed out a setback for some top-performing boxers such as Kolobe. His 48kg weight category does not feature in the Commonwealth Games programme or in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
“Even if they do not feature in the Commonwealth Games or Olympic Games, they will still compete in other international events in the region, and we will prepare them accordingly,” he said.
Notably absent from the provisional national team list are Phomolo Lengola and Monaheng Khebe, who are currently undergoing Lesotho Defence Force training as army recruits.
With the national team pool now identified, Letsoepa said preparations will begin without delay to ensure the boxers are ready for upcoming international assignments.
“We want to start preparations as soon as possible. It will not be a challenge to assemble the boxers because they are all based in Maseru,” Letsoepa said.
