SOUTH AFRICA ECHOES A WARNING TO BOTSWANA AT AUSC REGION 5 GAMES
BY:Kabelo Seleka
GABORONE:South African 56kg upcoming sensational Ishmael Kadri sent a strong message to Botswana’s Raymond Modumetsa after easily and tactically edging over Angola’s Pero Tiago by judges split decision 4-1 at the ongoing AUSC Region 5 Boxing games held on the 11th of December in Ditshupo Hall,Gaborone.
The boxing event started on the 10th with the local boy Kgosi Mosimakoko headlining by winning with an unanimous decision over Malawi’s Patrick Vincent in the flyweight division.
Session 1 of the event on Monday 10 featured 14 boxers on the card from 52kg to 64 kg.Malawi competed with 3 boxers of the categories on the day followed by 2 from South Africa and 1 from Angola,Botswana,Lesotho,Namibia,Zambia and Eswatini respectively.
Day 2 saw off the ever energetic and confident Kadri lace up gloves against Tiago where Tiago was schooled even in a close fight to call.In his post bout interview Kadris says he is not happy with his performance but he will destroy Raymond come high come hell.
“its sounds harsh but its the truth I destroy everything on my way,whether the crowd or not”laments Kadri.
For his part,Raymond whom also won in the preliminaries against Lyton Kabolila from Malawi by 5-0 says the first bout was a learning curve for him for his next bout.”gonana hake avoide ope,mongwe le mongwe yo otlang kea mo amogela”notes Raymond.
In other bouts of the day,Maonka Nene of Zambia won by unanimous decision over Namibia’s Joseph Nghomgelwa in the 52 kg.Enersto Comes accepted an invitation for ring dancing with Nene by also punching past Khaya Shongwe by 4-1.Botswana’s 60kg Thusanang Thotloetso came late into the bout to register a loss against South Africa’s Sakhile Hlatshwayo.
Andrew Chilata advanced to the next date after beating Kamogelo Lengola by unanimous decision.69 kg was a tough one as it was a close split decision between Asankhe Hedeni and Nehemia Ndilinawa.Nehemia won 3-2.
Closing the show was Steven Zimbe of Zambia eliminated Thabo Snyman of Lesotho to advance to the next stage.Zimbe won by RSC in the first round.
The boxing festival continues today with the local boy Festus Madiehe and Lesotho’s Retsiletsoe Kolobe matched in the flyweight division.Ring belling is at 2pm.
