By ‘Mamohlakola Letuka
MASERU — The Lesotho Amateur Boxing Association (Laba) on Sunday held a national boxing championship at the Makoanyane Barracks.
The event saw the association select a seven-member team which left the country on Tuesday for a week-long training camp in Gaborone, Botswana.
According to the Laba secretary general, Masetota Leshota, the championship gave local boxers much-needed competition as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games to be held later this year in Scotland.
“The plan was to give our boxers a chance to fight each other and also improve their skills,” Leshota on Tuesday told the Lesotho Times.
“We were also able to select a team of seven boxers that left the country today for a week’s training in Botswana.
“The seven boxers have also been included in the Lesotho team that will represent the country at the Commonwealth Games.”
Leshota said the Botswana camp would expose local boxers to international competition ahead of the July 23 to August 3 Commonwealth Games.
“The camp is going to equip them with all the relevant techniques and help them realise their weaknesses when they compete with boxers from other countries.”
Mokhotho Moroke, who was crowned boxer of the tournament at the weekend championship, told the Lesotho Times he was “humbled and excited” with the achievement.
“I am very happy and quite humbled at the same time,” Moroke said.
“The tournament was good for us, while it was also very challenging. I’m happy to have made it into the team, and hopefully, I will make my country
proud wherever I will be competing.”
Moroke said local boxing is facing “a lot of challenges”, adding the sport can only get better with similar competitions.
