HE is not only a former boxing star, but a renowned and highly qualified coach that has made his mark in foreign lands.
sports
Jan. 29, 2021
TEBOHO JAFETA
12 min read
Legendary boxer, coach, Sebusiso Keketsi Oly
Sebusiso Keketsi in red at the 1999 7th All Africa Games in Johannesburg, South Africa
After studying in a number of countries through sports scholarships, today Sebusiso Keketsi holds high qualifications in both coaching and sports administration.
He was awarded a three-star boxing coaching certificate by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) in 2014, making him the most qualified boxing coach in Lesotho.
As a young boxer, Keketsi, 40, collected a bronze medal from the 1999 All Africa Games. He also competed at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games and was a quarter-finalist at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
He collected a gold medal at the 2000 Zone VI (regional games) and was awarded the most promising boxer trophy in the same tournament.
He is the 1999 All Africa Games bronze medalist. Fellow countryman and teammate from the once formidable Best Boxers Club (BBC) Mosolesa ‘Fire’ Tsie also won a silver medal from the same event.
The accolades helped the two boxers to also qualify for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
He had won a silver medal at the 1999 Zone VI regional games and was the National Elite Champion and the national elite team captain until 2002.
Keketsi is the 1996 National Junior Champion and also won a gold medal at the 1996 Zone VI games.
Sebusiso Keketsi was born on April 4, 1981 in Ha Tšosane, Maseru. He is the son of ’Mathabo and the late Matlotlo Keketsi of Ha Tšosane. He is the second born in the family of four children, two boys and two girls.
He obtained his Primary School Leaving Examination Certificate (PSLE) from Motimposo Primary in 1994 before he proceeded to Methodist High School where he obtained his Junior Certificate (JC) and Cambridge Overseas School Certificate (COSC) in 1997 and 1999 respectively.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Sport from the International School of Physical Education and Sports in Cuba in 2007.
He studied in Cuba through a scholarship offered by that West Indies Island as a result of the country’s bilateral relations with Lesotho.
He obtained a Master’s Degree in Sports Management from the Seoul National University in South Korea in 2016 through a South Korean scholarship.
In 2018, he graduated from the Nippon Sports Science University in Japan with a Coach Developer Certificate.
He is currently pursuing a Post Graduate Certificate in Sports Management with the University of London via distance learning, under the scholarship opportunity offered by the International Olympian Association (IOA).
He started boxing competitively at the age of 14 after joining the Tšosane Boxing Club under the tutelage of the then coach Chaka Moekoa.
He relocated to the newly formed BBC club in 1996 under Teboho Mafatle who was at the time the national boxing coach.
In 1997, he joined the national junior team and was promoted to the senior team in 1999.
In 2009, Keketsi formed the Ea Rona Boxing Club alongside Rethabile Mohale, Lehlohonolo Snyman and Shadrack Monethi.
He started serving the government in 2007 in the Ministry of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation where he worked as Assistant Recreation Officer.
He was promoted to the position of Principal Sports and Recreation Officer in 2010 and still holds the same post to date.
He became the Lesotho Boxing Association national coach in 2008 and still holds the position.
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Coach Sebusiso Keketsi in action (in navy blue track suit)trac
He led the national team that competed at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil and also mentored the squad that competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. He also spearheaded the national team at the 2019 All Africa Games in Rabat, Morocco.
Later that year, he developed wellness boxing programme for the elderly people which was recognised by the Dream Together Master programme and won an award of best practice.
Through his assistance, the LeBA won the National Sport Association of the year accolade at the 2018 Lesotho Annual Sports Awards (LASA).
In 2017, he won the Coach of the year award, while the previous year, he had received the Athlete Recognition Award at the Lesotho Inaugural Sport Legacy Award ceremony.
Keketsi scouted and formed the first ever ladies boxing team from Lesotho for the 2014 Youth Olympic Qualifier Games, which were held in Sofia, Bulgaria the same year he was awarded the coveted three-star boxing coach certificate by the AIBA.
He led the Lesotho team to the 2012 Youth Supreme Council of Sports in Africa (SCSA) Games in Zambia and his charges brought home two gold and four bronze medals.
He was the boxing head coach at the 10th All Africa Games which were held in Mozambique in 2011 and his team collected a bronze medal which was the third boxing medal from the All Africa Games since 1999.
His best moment as an athlete was in 2000 when he received the most promising boxer trophy and his best coaching experience was when he led Lesotho’s two boxers including Moroke Mokhotho and the late Nkululeko Suntele to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
His worst moment as a boxer was in 2001 at the national championships when he lost to Tumisang Ntlamelle, only a year after competing at the Sydney Olympics.
As a coach, his worst performance was at the 2018 Regional games where protégé Mokhotho lost to a less experienced South African boxer.
Keketsi is married to Likeleli Matubatuba now called ’Maletlotlo Keketsi and the couple has two daughters, Letlotlo and Tlotliso.
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