Africa-Press – Lesotho. Former boxer and now coach, Sebusiso Keketsi, has been selected as a new member of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Coaches Committee. Lesotho Boxing Association (LeBA)’s Public Relations Officer, Rethabile Ntiea, confirmed these developments to this publication, calling the selection a consolation for local boxing following the death of Tšosane Boxing Club coach Chaka Moekoa last month.
Keketsi, 39, is the first ever local boxing coach to be part of the AIBA Coaches Committee. “After losing one of our coaches, Chaka Moekoa, who was shot dead last month, we have been consoled by the AIBA who has selected our former head coach Sebusiso Keketsi as a new member of the world boxing Coaches Committee,” said Ntiea in an interview with Public Eye.
Ntiea said this was indeed a consolation for the local boxing fraternity and the country as a whole since Keketsi is Moekoa’s protégé. He further said: “And the Lesotho Boxing Association is pleased to announce this achievement to the fans and all boxing supporters in the country.
Ntiea said this was despite the fact that Keketsi is currently not heading the local boxing coaches, as he has not been elected by the coaches for the task at the recent LeBA executive committee elections.
He said, “But the committee is directly working with him since he is the highest qualified boxing coach in the country. ” Keketsi holds a Star 3 certificate, which is the highest AIBA boxing coaching certificate.
He also holds Coach Developer Certificate, Sports Management Masters and is currently doing post-graduate certificate in sport management. All other local coaches hold a Star 1 certificate, according to Ntiea.
Keketsi has been selected together with South African Makhaya Andile Mofu, as representatives from the Southern African region. Talking to Public Eye on his selection Keketsi said: “It has always been my dream to be a member of the world boxing Coaches Committee in the past years considering my experience and achievements in boxing.
” He further pointed out that “I was interested from the previous years but I did not know where to start.
I remember one of local coaches saying I am still young for serving in the committee and I said to him but I am the one who advise you guys concerning boxing coaching.
”
But this time around, Keketsi has managed to get all the details and procedures for one to get there, with AIBA releasing invitations to member national boxing associations for coaches who feel they qualify to serve in the committee to apply.
“I have applied and when AIBA examined the qualifications of the coaches who had applied, I became one of those who have been selected to serve in the committee.
I am the first Mosotho to be selected in the committee but not the first person from Lesotho to be in the AIBA committees as Dr (Makhetha) Mosotho has currently been selected to serve in the Medical and Anti-Doping Committee of AIBA,” Keketsi said.
The late Colonel Victor Mohapi, Sebusiso said, has also served in the Youth Commission of AIBA. Mohapi was at the time president of the national boxing organization, at the time called Lesotho Amateur Boxing Association (LABA).
“If I am not mistaken, we had Victor Mohapi who was a member of the Youth Commission of AIBA,” he said. Keketsi was the national coach for local boxers who represented Lesotho at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Olympic Games.
In his days as a competitive boxer, Keketsi was one of the first Lesotho boxers to qualify for the Olympic Games in 2000. He was also one of local boxers who were the first to win medals (bronze) from All Africa Games in 1999. Keketsi started his boxing career with Tšosane Boxing Club and later joined Best Boxers Club (BBC).
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