08 Dec 2016

Botswana Swimming Sports Association (BSSA) will host the fourth swimming league gala at the University of Botswana Swimming Pool this weekend (December 10-110.

The event which is the biggest swimming competition in the BSSA calendar will commence this afternoon (December 9) and finish on Sunday.

Timothy Maje, the BSSA communications and marketing manager, said they expected around eight clubs to compete at the event.

These are BDF Dolphins, Thuma Botswana, Kubu, Phikwe Piranhas, Darrell Morton School of Swimming, University of Botswana Swimming Club, Gaborone Aquatic Club and Swim Rite Club.

Maje stated in an interview that swimmers who are eligible to compete this weekend are those who have participated in at least two of the swimming league competitions which were held this year.

“This is the biggest competition in our calendar of events, every swimmer is expected to swim in this competition before they could be considered for international events,” Maje explained on Wednesday (December 7).

He said swimmers will compete in 400m and 800m freestyle on Friday, and 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly, freestyle, breast stroke and back stroke categories on the next two days.

Regarding the progress of swimming sport in Botswana, Maje stated that the code has not improved at the level they were expecting.

“Swimming is still a bit low at schools where we usually get most of our swimmers.

We have not performed well unfortunately, we have not produced swimmers who can follow in the foot-steps of Naomi Ruele,” Maje said. ENDS