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From 6 July 2006, a graphic version of the current edition is available at the Daily News Online web site.

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Khunwane hung up his gloves in "golden style" after scooping a gold medal in two wins at the Best of the Best tournament at Orapa at the weekend.

He outclassed Abel Kandela and Moabi Mothiba in the semi-finals and finals, respectively.

"I thought about it and discussed it with my family, my coach and club members.

"People have been speculating about it but I now have to make it public.

"I have been fighting since I was 14 years-old.

So at 28 years, I want peace and I'm simply paving way for the young boxers, but I'm not quitting the sport since I intend to be a coach, that's my next step," Khunwane added.

His coach and University of Botswana (UB) boxing club manager, France Mabiletsa said: "I don't doubt his retirement, I see there is no coming back." He extolled Khunwane for great skill, which he complemented with speed, toughness and bravado, noting that he was already a model for some youngsters.

He expressed the hope that he would make a good coach.

Mabiletsa said it was unfortunate that Khunwane had to retire because he expected the boxer to fight in next month's Commonwealth Games.

However, he said the lightweight boxer had made his contribution by competing at high level tournaments and dedicating a lot of his time to boxing, hence he understood why Khunwane wanted to retire.

"I understand why he had to leave.

He had been a leader to everybody and was the best captain the national team had ever had.

He had led the national team and now that he had to leave, he opened doors for other boxers," said Mabiletsa.

Again, he said Khunwane had a job to protect, hence he might not be always available for training like he used to.

Unlike his coach, for team-mate Lechedzani 'Master' Luza it was not easy to accept that Khunwane had left.

Instead he said, "if I had a way of convincing him not to retire, I would have done so but there was nothing we could do since Gilbert's decision to retire was final." He added; "The fact is we still need him because his retirement leaves a big gap in the team, which will take time to fill.

Despite the fact that I did not want him to leave, he has some pieces to pick up a since he spent a lot of his time in boxing" Luza said his presence gave them the courage and motivation to look forward to competitions hence it was going to be difficult without him.

"Khunwane should retire knowing that his last fight will give the boxing fraternity (even though he lost in some international competitions) something to talk about! He did a lot for the nation and at the same time the team, especially the young up-coming boxers, will not get the motivation he used to give us.

I, for one, would say that I got my recognition in the national team because of his motivation.

It is going to take time to find someone to fill the gap he is leaving," said a colleague and former boxer in the national team, Dirang Thipe.

Botswana Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) sports development officer, Healer Modiradilo also expressed similar sentiments.

"Khunwane has done a lot for us in the boxing fraternity, generally in the development of the sport and I wish to encourage him to take up coaching courses to help in developing the sport further," he said.

Modiradilo said Khunwane had proved to be a true ambassador and "I wish to thank him for what he has done".

"It is unfortunate that he had to leave, but I respect his decision to retire which I guess had taken him a lot of time to arrive at." Khunwane is quitting the game after an illustrious career in which he showed amazing courage and heart, given a series of international bouts he had competed in.

His first major appearance in an international bout was in 1998 when he represented the country at the Malaysia Commonwealth Games while in the development programme.

He also competed at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.

Among other major competitions, Khunwane participated at the 1999 to 2003 Zone Six championships and was Zone Six champion for four consecutive years.

Again in 1999 he competed at All Africa Games in Durban, South Africa, where he got a bronze medal and qualified for the 2000 Sidney Olympic Games in Australia.

He was also chosen the Sportsman and Sports Person of the Year at the 1999 Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC)-Barloworld sports awards.

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