Chris Theko
A former member of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and boxing referee judge Thabang Makhakhe has died aged 51 years.
Makhakhe, who was also a businessman, lost his life after a very short illness.
The Lesotho Boxing Association (LeBA) Secretary General Lehohonolo Snymane said Makhakhe’s death is a huge loss to the sporting fraternity and most importantly to the association.
Despite Makhakhe not pursuing any administrative position in the association, he was always there and willing to advise the executive committee and administrators.
He served the sport as a boxer until his retirement from competitive boxing after which he became a referee judge.
He spent a few years as a referee then judge until he decided to leave the sport and focus entirely on his business. He had, however, recently returned to the sport structures helping LeBA with various national teams on a voluntary basis.
According to the Secretary General, Makhakhe’s contribution to the sport will sorely be missed.
“He would always make sure that our teams are well taken care of whenever they would be going out for competitions,” Snymane said.
He added that Makhakhe had the potential to become one of the sport’s major sponsors in the near future.
“This is a huge loss because his death comes at a time when he was starting to show interest in sponsoring our sport.
“We have also lost someone who grew within the sport and could really help us grow the sport” he said.
Makhakhe was respected by many upcoming boxers who looked up to him and others of his time. He competed locally and internationally, representing Lesotho in a number of continental and global tournaments. e,i.c
