26 Jun 2016

Baboloki Thebe and Karabo Sibanda took Africa by storm when they scopped gold and silver medals respectively at the 20th CAA African Senior Championship in South Africa on June 24.

Botswana made history by fielding three athletes: Isaac Makwala, Thebe and Sibanda in the 400m race.

Sibanda blasted from the block and Makwala guarded him well, but in the remaining 200 metres, Thebe accelerated and spectators could not afford to watch Botswana’s affair seated.

Thebe passed both Sibanda and Makwala with a lightning speed and it seemed that the country would bag all the medals.

However, that was not to be as Nigerian, Chidi Okezie, spoiled the party.

Thebe snatched the African title champion from Makwala by clocking 44.69 while Sibanda recorded 45.42.

Thebe said in an interview after the race that he was happy to be crowned the new Africn 400 champion, adding that he had prepared well and his race planned worked well.

“I decided to run my own race, and you know running against experienced Makwala is always a motivation to us youngsters, and I want to thank God and my teammates, “she said.

Sibanda said it did not come as a shock to him, given that they had been preparing well for the championship, although their main focus was World Junior Championships.

He said it was evident during the heats that Botswana was capable of snatching all the three medals. 

National team coach, Justice Dipeba, said he was happy with the boy’s performance.

He said he was of the view that Botswana could have recorded impressive time, but they were held up for a long time in the track after a false start.

“What I saw there was the first 200 metre, it was out of control, Makwala tried to run away from the young boys, and I think that’s where he messed up his race plan, even after the race he could not explain what he was doing, “he said.

Dipeba said in the last 50 metres, Makwala saw Thebe passing in the inside lane and he gave up the race.

“We did not discuss with Makwala the colour of medal to win as the defending champion, every medal count for a small country like us, he should have kept going so that he cross the line in a medal position, “he said.

Long jumper, Ruri Rammokolodi, won a bronze medal and in 400 metres women race, Lydia Jele finished on position four with 52.41, while Christene Botlogetswe clocked 53.31 to finish on position six. Ends