22 Dec 2015

Ga-Maila marathon publicity director, Osenotse Mabote, has implored business people, especially the youth, to make use of Ga-Maila marathon event to market their products and better their lives.

Speaking in an interview after the race in Kanye over the weekend, he said, it was a social event that created a platform for networking.

He said the event was an opportunity for multimedia companies to market themselves, adding that it also aimed at encouraging healthy lifestyles, unite the community and attract tourists to the beautiful landscape of Kanye that would in turn inject money into the economy.

He said the event cultivated a spirit of togetherness, unity, victory, discipline and also built endurance emphasising that these were key elements of success.

He said Ga-Maila marathon, which would be an annual event, would next year include a 21km on December 17, 2016.

Mabote cited lack of sponsors as some of the impediments to grow the race and therefore challenged companies to lend a helping hand as they should consider giving back to the community.

He said the little they had was not enough for the masses. 

He encouraged people to create a slot for exercising in their busy schedules to improve their health. Meanwhile, speaking on the sidelines of the race, a professional athlete, Onneile Dintwe, said she was using Ga-Maila marathon 2015 as a yard stick to gauge her level of physical fitness and mental approach towards a race as she was preparing for Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Dintwe, who outclassed all women, said she started racing at the age of 16 which saw her pocketing numerous awards. 

She scooped bronze in 2001 at Zimbabwe’s COSASA games in the 1 500 metre race, bronze in 2003 at CAA senior championships in Namibia in a 15 kilometre race, silver at CAA half marathon in Seychelles in 21.1 kilometre race, bronze in Botswana in 2009 in 5 000 metres at CAA championships, bronze at Seychelles’ CAA cross country in eight kilometre race and obtaining silver in a 10 kilometre race at SA marathon in South Africa, among others.

The 30-year old Dintwe has established an athletics club; Divine Grace Athletics Club that specialises in unearthing raw talent and mentoring upcoming athletes.

Keone Moreeng, a form four student at Seepapitso Senior Secondary School got position one in Ga-Maila five kilometre race for the men’s category.

Moreeng who was first to finish with ease said he participated at Botswana Games in 5 000 metres race but did not finish due to injury. Ends