14 Mar 2016

People who put in time and energy in the name of extracting talent barely get a pat on the back for their job.

Many times, these trainers are relegated to the background. How society overlook them inspite of the arduous task of turning greenhorns into big-time sporting heroes is mind boggling.

Save for rare moments when they are slapped with allegations of financial impropriety and professional misconduct, these passionate and selfless men and women hardly make headlines.

One such notable individul is Chilume Ntshwarang (39) known in sporting cycles as Chippa.

 There is no denying Chippa cut for sports but not as a star athlete per se. He derives so much joy out of fine turning talent into a marvel that otherwise could be headed to the gutters.

The soft spoken physical education teacher cum athletics coach at Tlhomo Junior Secondary School in Kanye concedes he tried his luck on track during his secondary school days at Ledumang senior in Gaborone but his legs could not carry him as fast as he would have liked.

 He only managed Botswana Intergrated Sports Association finals albeit a mediocre and uninspiring performance. “I was just an average athlete,” he says reminiscent of yesteryears.

 Ironically, the average performance did not take the life out of innate fascination he had for athletics but he became more thirsty and obsessed with the code.

To him training athletes is more than a vocation, it is his life-blood. After finishing his Cambridge Ntshwarang predictably read Physical Education at the University of Botswana, a platform that presented him with a chance to chase his dream.

The man with a midas touch has never looked back since his first appointment as a Physical Education teacher at Kgosi Mpe Junior Secondary School in Jwaneng in 2003 thanks to the inspiration and support he got from Innocent Sibanda, fellow colleague and sports master.

Thapelo Otlogetse, Leungo Matlhaku, Tsaone Sebele, Ditiro Sebele are some of the finest athletes that have gone through Chippa’s capable hands and attest to his midas touch.

The quartet’s sheer talent and captivating form have not only endeared themselves to the hearts of athletics enthusiasts but they have also caught the attention of the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC).

A member of Jwaneng Athletics Club, Ntshwarang is looking forward to a day when he will be able to work in close proximity with his athletes especially those that are in Gaborone for purposes of continuity.

“At the moment, I recommend my athletes who are in Gaborone to either further their studies or search for greener pastures to my fellow coach and Olympian, Justice Dipeba whom I must say is doing a remarkable job,” he says.

Armed to the teeth with top-notch coaching credentials among others, Youth and Junior Coaching, IAAF Youth Chief Coaching certificates, Ntshwarang says Botswana has a bright future in athletics.

Although the country has been doing extremely well in sprints, the Dagwi born coach says there is need to strike a balance to ensure tremendous potential shown in middle distance as well as field events in this country does not go to waste. Ends