05 Aug 2015

Botswana will send a strong team of athletes to the 2015 Samoa Commonwealth Youth fifth edition games pencilled for September 5-11.

Around 1 000 youth athletes aged 14-18 years from Commonwealth countries will take part in what is promising to be a mouth-watering games.

Botswana did not leave anything to chance as they have picked a formidable team that would compete and ultimately finish on the podium.

The team is made up of the 2014 African youth Games Gold medallist Karabo Sibanda who will represent the country on the 400 metres.

In the 100 metres the country will pin its hope on Thabiso Sekgopi who is also the Africa Youth Games 4x1 relay gold medallist, Aobakwe Malau will compete in the 200 metres. 

In the 100 metres hurdles, 2015 National Senior Championships Gold medallist Refilwe Murangi and 2014 Africa Youth Games finalist and 2015 National Senior Championship Silver medallist Kgalalelo Tlalaanyane will represent the country, while Thandi Uerimura will battle it with other athletes in the 800 metres.

Africa youth games and 2014 COSSASA games gold medallist high jumper Aobakwe Nkobela and long jumper Kabo Mphali are also expected to hoist Botswana flag high in their respective fields.

In the water David Van Der Colff is expected to do what he knows best in both 100m backstroke, 50m backstroke, butterfly and freestyle.

Botswana’s finest boxers Mahommed Rajab Otukile (49kg) and Kutlwano Ogaketse (56kg) will bout with their counter-parts at the games.

Speaking at the unveiling of the team, Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) president, Negroes Kgosietsile said sports serve two purposes being the economic and health.

He urged the young athletes to consider  it a  rare opportunity that they have been singled out to represent the country. 

Kgosietsile said while in Samoa they should always remember that Botswana was principled on Botho, and they should ensure that they “Play Honesty” and stay away from performance enhancing substances.

For his part BNOC chief executive officer , Tuelo Serufho said they were sending young athletes and they do not want to pile pressure on them but they should just go to Samoa and enjoy themselves and be good ambassadors of the country, but they should fully compete during the games. Ends