IRENE STEPS INTO THE RING TO FIGHT THREE EX-MALE BOXERS

▪ She’s aiming to emulate Eswatini’s Pearl Dlamini and South Sudan’s Teresia Athian in Africa’s boxing leadership
▪ Dirang Thipe says he’s the front runner singling out Lechedzani Luza as his main rival and that Irene Ntelemo and current BoBA boss Gilbert Khunwane are peripheral challengers with zero chances of winning

Botswana’s influential boxing leader Irene Ntelemo is at it again.

This time around, she’s battling three former international boxers in the Botswana Boxing Association’s elections scheduled for Saturday (August 9) at the Hilton Inn Hotel in Gaborone.

Ntelemo has thrown down her gauntlet and laced her gloves to face three former international boxers for the President’s position.

The three are current BoBA president Gilbert Khunwane, 2002 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Lechedzani “Master” Luza and Dirang “Tips” Thipe.

In challenging the former international boxers, Irene aims to emulate the current head of African boxing, Pearl Dlamini and Madam Teresia Athian Abdelbagi, the pioneer female boxing leaders in Africa.

Pearl sent shockwaves throughout Eswatini’s boxing circles in 2011 when she floored male opponents to become Africa’s first ever female national boxing federation president, successfully leading Eswatini Boxing Association for nine years while Teresia Athian was elected South Sudan Boxing Federation President in 2022.

Ntelemo, dubbed the mother of female boxing in Botswana, showed her influence at the 2014 elections during which she beat two male candidates one of them being Thipe and Willoughby Kemoen. She got 10 votes, Thipe eight and Kemoen one. Ntelemo had previously served as an appointed Deputy Secretary-General for four years and is credited for introducing women’s boxing in Botswana, serving in the International Boxing Association and the African Boxing Confederation. A teacher and a librarian by profession, Ntelemo feels she has what it takes to lead BoBA.

“I’m not undermining my opponents I respect them a lot but let them know it’s time for a woman president to take over Botswana’s boxing leadership,” says the quietly spoken but cunning Ntelemo.

Unshaken by the entry of the female candidate, Thipe – a Seargent in Botswana Defence Forces – says Ntelemo and Khunwane are just doing shadow boxing punching the air but realistically they have no chances of winning, and that the main battle is between him and Luza.

“Gilbert killed Botswana boxing he has no support,
Irene isn’t passionate,” says Thipe, adding: “So I don’t see any possibility of the two of them winning. I believe my rival in the elections is
Master but he will be the second to me. I did my campaign very well and affiliates understand me better, I will therefore win.”

Thipe represented Botswana’s national team from 2000 to 2006. He won light-heavyweight gold at the 2002 Africa Military Boxing Championships in Nairobi. He has previously served BoBA as Vice-President and Secretary-Geberal respectively.

The abrasive Luchedzani Luza has however poured cold water on Thipe’s remarks that he will finish second to him in the elections.

“That’s funny, me finishing to him that’s a sick joke. He must answer the question on why he got kicked out previously and what did he deliver before,” Luza hit back at Thipe, arguing he is the best qualified candidate to replace Khunwane who Luza – without batting an eyelid – says he’s on his way out.

“Gilbert’s approach towards all activities is very cold, and he fails to separate personal differences, if any, with professional stuff,” says Luza who represented the national team from 1999 to 2006 in the flyweight division and is one of Botswana’s most decorated boxers. He won the country’s first Commonwealth Games silver medal in 2002 in Manchester losing in the finals to Zambia’s Kennedy Kanyanta. At the same Games, current BoBA president Khunwane won a bronze medal in the lightweight division.

On why he feels he is the favourite to win the elections, Luza says: “I’m a very experienced coach, manager at UB/Tsholofelo boxing stables. I have raised African champions like flyweight Oteng Oteng and Mooketsi Lekgetho to mention but a few. I was the first coach to win two gold medals in the 2014 African Youth Games in Gaborone, two golds in the 2019 African Games in Rabat and qualified two boxers for the Tokyo Olympics.”

Khunwane laughed off remarks by his challengers saying they’re entitled to their own opinion but he’s confident of going for the second term having been elected in 2021. He has been a member of BoBA executive committee from 2012 as Vice-President to 2014. He returned in 2019 as Vice-President and in 2021 he became the president.

On whether he’s spending sleepless nights on the possibility of becoming a one-term president, Khunwane says that will not happen.

“Nothing to worry about. Campaign is going on well so far and I’m optimistic to win. No opponent worries me,” says Khunwane.

I ask him how much he has spent so far to woo voters, a habit rife in any election worldwide.

With a chuckle, Khunwane says:”I don’t do that buying votes, maybe my opponents are doing it.”

As a boxer, Khunwane represented the national team from 1998 to 2005 winning several medals including a bronze at the 1999 African Games and another bronze at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in the lightweight division. He has also scooped Boxer of the Year and Sportsman of the Year Awards and briefly coached the national team from 2006 to 2008.

The Secretary-General’s position has the winner in the 2021 elections, Taolo Tlouetsile and his opponents, Moremi Lefiri and Tshiamo Pelogale.

For unknown reasons, Taolo resigned some few months ago but he declined to elaborate why he abruptly quit the coveted position.

“My resignation was personal,” he told boxerworld.co.ke but insiders say Taolo’s resignation was a tactical retreat to avoid a trap set for him by his detractors. Now that the coast is clear the former nosy journalist is back to fight for his position. With his wealth of experience, influence and networking, ring analysts view his opponents as paperweights in Botswana boxing. Unless he’s hit by a sucker punch, Taolo is home and dry.

A total of 17 delegates from the 25 registered clubs will vote in Saturday’s elections. Titan Boxing Stable, owned by Luza, will not vote.

“Normally we invite the president and the SG but only one of them votes,” says Khunwane.

BOTSWANA BOXING ASSOCIATION LIST OF NOMINEES FOR THE 2025 ELECTIONS

President

Lechedzani Luza
Dirang Thipe
Gilbert K. Khunwane
Irene Ntelamo

Vice-President

Phetogo Tsheko
Hlanganani Digwere

Secretary-General

Moremi Lefiri
Tshiamo Pelokgale Moalosi
Taolo Tlouetsile

Treasurer

Refilwe Letshwiti

Publicity Secretary

Kabelo Seleka
Gaone Motshwanaesi

Competition Coordinator

Boitumelo Taolo

Additional Member

Dintwa Sloca
Olobogeng Gaothobongwe
Mathata Thingwane