Female boxer aims for gold
Female boxer, Musa Rikhotso, aims to bring a gold medal home from the SA Boxing Championships later this year.
Speaking to the Herald, Rikhotso who will be joining the Limpopo cohort of boxers which qualified for the national championships after winning a match last month said she started boxing in 2017 and it all happened by chance when she met a boxing coach who told her to try it out as a hobby to pass time. And the rest is history.
“It was hard at first to get the basics right but I fell in love with the sport and kept going to practice my shots and I got better. My first fight in Malamulele stunned everyone as I survived and won the match.”
She said she had several fights to build her confidence and went to Kimberley for a boxing tournament where she had two matches and lost in the final. “I knew I loved the sport and kept wanting to get better at it despite the loss in the final. I gave it my all and wanted to inspire myself and see where I could get with the sport and now I am going to represent the district and province in Cape Town.”
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The journey was not easy as Rikhotso was judged by a lot of people for choosing a sport that is male-dominated. “How can you love such a tough sport is a question I am used to, till this day I get the same comments and it does not bother me anymore.” She advised people to work on their talents, not be afraid to take chances and see where it can take them. “I am planning to come back with a gold medal from Cape Town and in preparation I have intensified my training.”
“I may not know what the future holds but I am working hard to make my dreams come true. Coming from an impoverished family she wanted to better the family’s financial situation by any means. Rikhotso said at first even her family did not understand her boxing but when they saw her dedication they started supporting her and assisting in the logistics of going to fights and training programme needs. Rikhotso said her favourite boxer is Floyd Mayweather.
“He inspires me with his way of training and working on his craft. He is one of the best boxers alive and that fuels me as I wish to be successful just like him.” She said she also dreams of being a police officer in the near future to make a difference in her community.
