Mikia Kalati
Four local boxers are on a weeklong training camp in South Africa preparing for next month’s Olympic qualifier set for Cameroon.
The fighters are Moroke Mokhotho, Nkululeko Suntele, Qhobosheane Mohlerephe and Tšepo Lepoqo. Mokhotho won bronze medals at the 2011and 2015 All-Africa Games.
According to Lesotho Amateur Boxing Association president Takatso Ramakhutla, the intensive training seeks to ensure the pugilists qualify for the Olympic Games scheduled for Brazil later this year.
Ramakhula further said the Port Elizabeth camp is being sponsored by the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC).
“The four boxers left the country on Sunday and are on a one-week training camp in Port Elizabeth. They are using the training to fine-tune preparations for an Olympic qualifying tournament set for Cameroon from 6 March,” Ramakhula said.
“The team is under the mentorship of one of our coaches, Sibusiso Keketsi, who recently returned from Korea where he completed a Master’s degree in sports management.
“The training camp came at the right time for us and we are confident that it will help the boys get in shape for the big competition as they are also training with South Africans.”
Ramakhula noted the camp would not have succeeded without the LNOC.
“I made a proposal to the LNOC and luckily for us, it was approved and the boys are now hard at work in a bid to book places at the Rio de Janeiro Games,” said Ramakhula
“To be realistic, I think Mokhotho has a very good chance of qualifying for the Olympics. He has been very dominant in his division and is our top boxer. But the whole team is determined to succeed, which gives us hope that they will fly the country’s flag high in Cameroon.
“All in all we are thankful to the LNOC for making it possible for our boys to go on this camp in South Africa and prepare for the important tournament.”
Lesotho head-of-delegation to the Olympic Games and LNOC executive committee member, Letsatsi Ntsibolane, told the Lesotho Times: “It is our duty to make sure that we assist where associations are coming short.
“It is also worth noting that two of these boxers, Mokhotho and Suntele, are in our Olympic Solidary Scholarship Programme, so we are obliged to assist them.”
