BA Psychology graduate, Goitseone Kgopisho, is aiming to become one of the best boxers in South Africa as she draws inspiration from Onalenna Tsae and Claressa Shields.
Hailing from Uitkyk in Mahikeng, Kgopisho developed a passion for sport from a young age as her dad was a devoted sport fanatic.
Kgopisho has an interest in both boxing and rugby, however after sustaining a knee injury on field, she has turned focus solely on competing in the ring.
To date, she has won two gold medals, consecutively, at the USSA Tournament and hopes to build on this momentum going forward.
Speaking with Tlamelo Kganakga, Kgopisho chats about balancing academics and sport, and how media can amplify women’s sport.
Goitse, thank you for chatting with us. Please tell us more about yourself.
My name is Goitseone Kgopisho from Uitkyk Village in Mahikeng. I’m a BA in Psychology Graduate from North West University and I’m much of a sportswoman. I’m easy to talk to, patient, very kind but I don’t like it when that is taken for granted.
When and where did your love for sport begin?
My love for sport started from a young age as I was raised by a man who devoted his life to sport. I can say sport is part of my life as it plays a major role.
My love for contact sport (Rugby and Boxing) started in 2017 when I was doing my first year at North West University.
Please tell us about your love for both boxing and rugby and how you managed to balance sport and your academics.
I love both these sporting codes due to the challenges that comes with them. Participating in sport actually helped me with academics and I’ve learned the importance of time management. But now my focus is more on boxing and took a break from rugby due to the knee injury that I sustained.
In your opinion, how’s the state of women’s boxing and rugby in the North West Province?
I can say slowly but surely boxing gains popularity but mostly with juniors and elites – we still have a long way to go, especially in the professional level. In Mahikeng we still need to have boxers for juniors, elites, and seniors, more specifically girls in the sport.
What do you think can be done to improve sport in the North West Province?
Early introduction to contact sport can add do a lot to improve such sporting codes. From my personal experience, I didn’t know that one can participate in Boxing/Rugby from an early age.
What do you think we as media can do to amplify women’s sport?
It is through platforms like this that have the power to change and make sportswomen known. So far the media is doing great work as they also make time to interact with sportswomen in different sporting codes.
Who are some of the sportswomen you admire and why?
Let me start with someone very close to me – Coach Onalenna Tsae is one of the sportswomen because of how she empowers and shines her light through others. The other one is Claressa Shields, she’s the greatest woman in boxing and she’s undisputed.
What are some of the lessons you have learned in your career?
I’ve learned that it takes patience, determination, discipline, and hard work to achieve your goals and teamwork can take you far in life. Most importantly I’ve learned that a team can be more of a family especially when they are ONE in spirit.
What have been the highlights of your career so far?
My highlights was when I won gold medals two years in a row during the USSA Tournaments and the other one is being given an opportunity to play both rugby and boxing at the same time.
What would be the fondest memory of your career to date?
My fondest memory of my career is having to be part of the team that was led by greatest woman of them all Coach Onalenna Tsae. She’s more than a coach to us, she is one person who has the gift to see through her players and knows what best suits who
What’s your greatest ambition?
My greatest ambition is to work hard towards playing at National level in boxing and if that doesn’t go as planned, I want to teach kids/teenagers especially girls the art of boxing. I want to be the person that I needed to other young girls as I didn’t have one during my teenage years.
Photo 1 Caption: BA Psychology graduate, Goitseone Kgopisho, is aiming to become one of the best boxers in South Africa as she draws inspiration from Onalenna Tsae and Claressa Shields. Photo: Supplied
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