05 May 2016

Botswana’s 4x400m men relay team will, for the first time, take part in the IAAF Diamond League this evening (May 6).

The Doha meet will be graced by top athletes in different categories.

Coach, Justice Dipeba will have at his disposal, Karabo ‘Scara’ Sibanda, Zachariah ‘Molweni’ Kamberuka, Baboluki ‘G-man’ Thebe, Gaone ‘Lux’ Maotoanong, and Nijel ‘Zoro’ Amos. 

Botswana will battle it out with France, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

Thebe might start the race given his good take off  speed.

Hopefully, he would not have stage fright and commit a false start since he would be participating in the Diamond League for the first time.

The second lap might go to Maotoanong who is good at maintaining speed and might give Kamberuka the baton in a good position.

Amos, who over time has proved capable of doing damage control, could finish the race.

Dipeba said in an interview that he left out Isaac Makwala to give the young boys an opportunity to prove their mettle.

“They are new members in the team and we are not under any pressure to qualify at the moment as our 4x400m men relay team has already qualified. This is just preparation for the Olympics,” he said. 

Dipeba said his mission was to observe Thebe on a bigger bigger stage. 

He said he might be one of the athletes he might use in the 4x400m men relay team in Rio.

The race starts at 9:05pm.

Meanwhile, Makwala would battle it out with Trinidadian Machel Cedenio, Steven Gardiner of Bahamas, Qatari Abdalelah Haroun, Americans Tony McQuay, David Verburg and LaShawn Merritt, Luguelín Santos of the Dominican Republic in the 400m race. 

The race is scheduled for 7:04pm . Ends