24 Nov 2015

Four times champion, Gift Sango did it again. 

He emerged Mr Botswana’s Strongest Man pocketing a whooping P10 000 and body supplements during the Fitness and Body Building contest held in Gaborone.

Speaking after the crowning, Sango said that to be a victor, one needs to be determined, focused and eat the right diet.

He said eight weeks before the competition started, he changed his diet to the prescribed one, adding that it was not about the body size but about one’s strength.

Sango noted that this year’s competition was not that tough as participants who threatened him last year did not participate, citing that he wanted to face them again so that he could test his strength.

In the junior category, Gontse Sechele emerged Mr Botswana’s Strongest Man, scooping P10 000 and supplements. 

Ndumiso Dhlodhlo got second position while third position went to Blessing Samaringa.

The winner, Sechele recently competed in South Africa in the World Fitness Federation (WFF) and got position three.

Speaking at the Fitness and Body Building contest,  specially elected councillor for Gaborone City Council, Macdonald Peloetetse said it was their responsibility as community leaders and mentors to encourage all to work together to develop ‘I can-do attitude’ and define purpose for the right decision to be made. 

Peloetetse said it was the responsibility of young people to embrace the mentality of body building fitness to make it the basis of their actions.

He said that irrespective of the category they belonged to, they have performed outstandingly and should be proud of themselves. 

Cllr Peloetetse applauded participants for the hard work, unwavering spirit of innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship as well as their desire to do the best.

“It has to be recognised that such achievements do not come by accident or miracle. They are a result of investment of your time, talent and even money in pursuit of personal goals,” he said.

He said to their peers, participants have demonstrated that being ambitious and proactive could result in positive rewards which would restore the country’s dignity, advance the cause of self-reliance and end Botswana’s perpetual problem of over reliance on the government.

Peloetetse noted that over the centuries Botswana had always been a land of immense potential in terms of knowledge, innovation and talent, but lost this because the community lost belief in themselves intellectually. 

Society needs a more empowered and entrepreneurial youth, equipped with the knowledge to address issues of development, he added.

“Credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and sometimes even blood; who strives valiantly and knows the great enthusiasms and devotions. 

The man who knows the triumph of high achievement and if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly,” said Cllr Peloetetse.

Activities of the day included dead lift, farmers walk, truck pull, bicep pull, tyre flip, load and push. In the evening, the activities were Miss Bikini, Men’s fitness, senior and junior Mr Botswana. Ends