24 Sep 2015

When they left for Congo Brazzaville to compete in the 11th Africa Games, their target was to amass at least 20 medals. However, the team only managed to win 14 medals with athletics taking three gold, two silver and one bronze, followed by karate with one silver and four bronze.

Boxing won two bronze medals while swimming walked away with one silver.  Botswana was represented in badminton, swimming, cycling, karate, boxing, weightlifting, table tennis, judo, tennis, volleyball, taekwondo and athletics. 

In the same competition held in Mozambique in 2011, Botswana set the same target of 20, but won 16 - two gold, five silver and nine bronze medals. Team Botswana chef-de-mission, Seabe Raditladi, could not explain why the team failed to reach its target, save to cite inadequate preparations.  

He, however, said he was happy that the athletes managed to apply themselves. 

He conceded that athletes from the Arab world gave Botswana a hard time. He observed that Botswana athletes reached the medal stage only to lose to the Arabs. He said the fact that the weather was hot and humid could not pass for an excuse because that was what they expected. 

He was however happy with the quality of the medals, especially the gold, which was an improvement from 2011. Raditladi commended all sporting codes for putting up a brave performance in Congo Brazzaville. Ends