01 Aug 2016

A total of 141 athletes left the country for Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Sunday to participate in the Confederation of Universities, Colleges in Southern Africa (CUCSA), games.

The athletes from Botswana are expected to participate against athletes from the host nation Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Malawi.

Botswana Tertiary Student Sports Association (BOTESSA)  athletes will participate in volleyball, soccer, netball, basketball, tennis, table tennis, athletics and karate.

All sporting codes sent both male and female teams except netball, which only sent a female team. The games which started yesterday will end on the 6th of August
The team is expected back home on the 7th.

Speaking during the sendoff ceremony on Friday, principal assistant district officer, Gotewang Senwedi told the athletes to do their best to represent their country, especially that the country is celebrating 50 years of independence this year

Senwedi said they should not be in any pressure but they should go there to enjoy the game with the aim of winning. He told athletes that botho coupled with team work is the mainstay of success.

Serowe College of Education acting principal, Neo Mapharing stated that  sport plays a major role in self-esteem  and individual development. Mapharing explained that sport is important in character building, as such appealed to them to use the chance as an opportunity for personal growth.

 “It is not only about winning but is also about rewarding experience.” She said their participation calls for self-driven commitment and disciplined individual. The acting principal pleaded with the athletes to refrain from any activities that could jeopardise their participation citing doping.

“Team work should transcend in all your interactions for positive result. We are celebrating 50 years anniversary, so make it happen for Botswana to be proud,” she said. She told them to embrace concept of unity in diversity, as they will be interacting with people from other countries.

“In Botswana we cherish the value of botho, so do not disappoint the country.” An athlete, Ntebogang Motlakaleso said though their training was short they are ready, mentally and physically to represent the country.

Similarly, BOTESSA vice president, Patrick Moesi said they will enjoy the games and bring back positive results. Moesi said they have experienced players who have been groomed properly in the sport arena.

In an interview, BOTESSA public relations officer, Duncan Segabo was adamant that team Botswana is a formidable side that will bring many medals, especially gold medals. Segabo believes that the likes of Emmanuel Ramoshedi,a trooper player who will be relocating to North West (South Africa) in the near future to play semi professional sport and Kesaobaka Ndelemo who  plays for Dolphins will help men basketball team to bring gold home.

Regarding volleyball men team, he said all players are playing in the Mascom volley ball league. In athletics, he said they are expecting a minimum of six gold medals citing Phokoje Omphile who is currently a national record holder of shot-put as a medal prospect.

Segabo was also hopeful that Ditiro Sebele of 100 metres and Amantle Kekganetswe of 5000 metres will secure gold medals. In Karate team, that has been doing well, he said they are also expecting minimum of two gold medals. ENDS