28 Aug 2016

Multitude of people thronged Linchwe II Junior School in Mochudi on Friday to bid  Keatlaretse Mabote farewell. who is going to be  the first Motswana to participate at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Among the multitudes were team Botswana from the Rio Olympics, MP for Kgatleng West,  Gilbert Mangole and other dignitaries of the district.

Linchwe II school head, Phometsi Phometsi, said sport was growing.

He said Mabote’s talent was nurtured in Linchwe where he was encouraged by one of his teachers when he was still a student.

Phometsi highlighted that Mabote participated in different competitions where he came home with different medals adding that he went as far as Germany and China.

The school head also advised parents to encourage their children to participate in sports noting that nowadays sports could provude employment.

“You earn a living through sports, they are so many Batswana who are earning a living through sports like Tsotso Ngele and Nigel Amos”.

For her part Carinah Rahube who is a teacher at Linchwe II and also nurtured Mabote's talent said the event was to raise awareness towards people with disabilities and to encourage them to follow their dreams.

She said they knew that Mabote was going to come back with a gold medal noting that his past competitions gave them hope that he would do well.

In his words of encouragement, Mangole encouraged the athlete that he should take his talent seriously noting that he should put more effort and he should also have faith in himself.

Mangole also applauded team Botswana for their presence at the event adding that it had inspired Mabote and Linchwe students.

Mabote promised those who attended the event that he would do his best to bring a medal.

 His profile showed that Mabote participated in different competitions like in Maputo in all African semi-finals, Congo Brazzaville 400m finals, he also won bronze medals in 2016 at Tunisia, China and Germany. ENDS