Pakela loses millions in the Tashkent knockout

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Distraught after maiden IBA World Championships defeat

NTHAKO MAJORO

MASERU – Flustered, hard-hitting boxer, Arena Pakela remains upset following his first loss in the ongoing International Boxing Association (IBA) Men’s World Boxing Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, this week, missing out on a chance to box his way to the coveted M3 million prize money for winning.   Pakela, 25, was knocked out of the competition by Nidal Foqahaa (4-1) of Palestine in the men’s light middleweight didvision on Wednesday, after compatriot Qhobosheane Mohlerepe was also eliminated by Mohamed Oumarou (3-1) of Cameroon in the men’s light welterweight division on Tuesday.  

This means that both Lesotho boxers missed out on the golden opportunity of bagging the global boxing showpiece’s honour, which pays $50 000 (over M900 000) for winning bronze, $100 000 (M1 million) for winning silver, and $200 000 (over M3 million) for gold. Pakela told Public Eye following his match that it was never going to be easy for them in Tashkent as far as preparation for a competition of such magnitude is concerned. “I can say I have done my best, but the fact that we came here unprepared as we could not even camp ahead of the championships and with a short notice about our trip (to Tashkent) will always have a negative impact on our performance at an international level,” he said.   Pakela further said: “We are very much lagging behind as far as international boxing competition is concerned, and we could not prevail against other boxers if we do not get support from our own country.”

The national light middleweight champion, however, said he was surprised to realise that he lost to Foqahaa at the end of the fight. “He was not outclassing me. It is just that I delayed finding my rhythm. In fact, I thought I was doing well, only to realise very late that I was not.” Former Lesotho international boxer and now coach, Sebusiso Keketsi echoed Pakela’s sentiments in a separate interview. Keketsi, who has an IBA three-star coaching certificate, said it was obvious that the Lesotho boxers had not prepared well for the competition. “The way I saw it, it was obvious that our boxers’ main challenge was a lack of practise,” he said. “Both boxers (Pakela and Mohlerepe) only know the weaknesses of their local opponents, and that sees them struggling when they face new opponents, like it happened at the ongoing world champs.” 

Keketsi, however, said in terms of skill, Pakela and Mohlerepe matched their opponents in Tashkent. “In terms of skill, they were at the same level as their opponents. But what I have also realised about Arena (Pakela) is that his opponent was bigger. He (his opponent, Faqahaa) was too tall, and it took him (Pakela) time to figure out how he could tackle him.” Keketsi further said: “It was a matter of not being used to taller boxers like him.” Lesotho Boxing Association (LeBA)’s Public Relations Officer, Rethabile Ntiea, also shared Pakela’s sentiments. Ntiea said a lack of preparation for the global boxing showpiece had affected their boxers’ performance in Tashkent. “The performance was good. It’s just that we were not fine here and there,” he said, adding: “Failing to camp and not having quality training ahead of the championships really affected our boxers’ performance.”

Ntiea, who is also a former boxer, said the boxers could not camp or have quality training for the Tashkent Championships simply because of a lack of funds. He said this was despite the fact that IBA had funded the boxers’ accommodation and flight tickets for the Tashkent trip. LeBA PRO said the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) had provided transport for the boxers to the airport, but he still reiterated the importance of camping and having quality training for big boxing events like the IBA World Boxing Championships. “Because of a lack of funds, our boxers even went to the World Championships wearing different attire.“And to get the attire I am talking about, we had to look for their old kit, which they bought for the previous Commonwealth Games,” he said.

Lesotho has remained with one boxer, Retšelisitsoe Kolobe, to fight for the coveted IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships title in Tashkent. Kolobe’s opponent was yet to be known when we went for printing last night, but the Lesotho boxer’s maiden fight at the competition has been scheduled for today. All three boxers were making their first appearances at the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships.

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