Africa-Press – Botswana. Although some want to describe boxing as an art, it is a dangerous, physical, contact sport says Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) president, Gilbert Khunwane.
Officiating at the graduation ceremony of a boxing coaching course in Gaborone Thursday, Khunwane said it was important for coaches to avoid situations that could compromise the safety of boxers.
He also advised the new coaches to start at the grassroots level and to recruit young boxers.
He said he was happy that some of the trained coaches were primary school teachers and that it was critical to have development coaches at secondary schools.
He advised the coaches to even engage the out of school youth, noting that junior boxers were those aged between 15-16 years while youth covered those aged between 17-18 years.
He said it was against boxing ethics to allow a youth to fight with a junior boxer, adding that it was the reason there were competitions for the junior, youth and elite boxers.
He said their grassroots boxing development programme must continue with or without funds.
He said the programme covered the gap left by the suspension of school sport.
He added that they had given the regions equipment to develop boxers.
He said the development of boxers must be undertaken with the empowerment of their trainers.
He said the course covered basic principles of coaching and that it was important for those who wanted to be confirmed as boxing coaches.
He said the course was more of an introductory manual to boxing and that most of the trainees already had an understanding of what was expected from them as some were former boxers while others were engaged in the sport. He said the course would go a long way in developing grassroots boxing in the country.
He said out of the 18 trainees, 15 managed to pass the course and were determined and hungry to grow.
Even the three that were not successful, he said showed determination and the understanding of the sport, adding that their only handicap was that they were still new to the sport.
The three-day course was conducted by former boxer, Khumiso Ikgopoleng.
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