09 Mar 2015

Batswana must have been left with amazement when Botswana’s 4x400-metre boys relay team celebrated a gold medal without the country's flag at the 12th African Junior Athletics Champions in Ethiopia.

Led by Karabo Sibanda, the runners deserved an expressive celebration having fought from the first to the last whistle to register 3:11:00, followed by Ethiopia with 3:11:19 and on position three was Nigeria with 3:11:20.

A bouquet of flowers was not enough for the boys. They needed to adorn the colourful Botswana clours to create a sense of belonging and importance. The significance of a national flag cannot be over emphasized because citizens rally around their national flag as it creates a sense of belonging, identity and nationalism.

Usually when athletes compete at an international stage, after winning a race they drape themselves in their countries’ respective flags to show a sense of patriotism and pride.

Now the question is; where was Botswana flag when the young boys needed it most? Botswana National Sports Council’s Chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng said in an interview that it was not compulsory to run around with a national flag, and that no one would be penalised for the omission.

Reikeletseng saidmany dynamics came into play during such competitions. “Look, a Botswana flag was up when the national anthem was sung during the medal presentation, and people need to understand that there are multiple of events going on at the same time, so we cannot have all the flags for all those things,” he argued.

Reikeletseng said as much as sport was a platform to sell Botswana, athletes did well in that regard given that they won the race downing Botswana colours, "which alone was enough.”

The draping of national flags around the field was started by Kenyans possibly as their deliberate strategy to brand Kenya. “We have our own way of selling our country; let’s just appreciate that our athletes have done well,” he countered.

Meanwhile, Botswana won two gold medals and one silver medal. Karabo Sibanda’s individual effort on lane three managed to record 46:33 to bring gold home, followed by Alexanda Sampao of Kenya with 46:54 and on position three was Adekunle Rilwan Fasasi of Nigeria with 46:84.

The silver medal was scooped by Botswana’s 4x100 metre boys’ relay team. ENDS