17 Jan 2017

Multitudes of Batswana  amongst them Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Tshekedi Khama were at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport to welcome Botswana   motor bike rider, Vincent Crosbie from the Dakar rally.

Crosbie who was the first Motswana to compete at the Dakar Rally managed to finish his race and ultimately ranked the sixth fastest rookie in the race.  He was also ranked number one in Africa and 35th in the world.

Although the 26 years-old rider from Serowe was a first timer at the competition, he shocked the world making it to the finishing line, out classing some veterans of the race.
Minister Khama said in an interview at the airport that he was impressed by Crosbie’s determination to finish the race despite that he was a rookie at the competition.

He noted that challenges of not finding sponsors in the beginning did not dampen Crosbie’s spirit, adding that he was happy that Botswana Tourism Board, Brand Botswana and other ponsors stepped in to ensure that the biker realised his dream of competing in Dakar.

Furthermore, Khama said for Motswana to start and finish such a competitive race was a welcome development.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity and that should be a motivating factor to all Batswana that if they want to represent their country they can do that with pride and diligence,”he said.

He said in future both big companies and parastalals must be prepared to sponsor people who participate in such big competitions as they can fully brand the country.

Crosbie said he enjoyed the 12 day-race which had rain, hail, heat, as well as lower to extremely high altitudes.

“But 9000 kilometres, we did it, we raised the flag high, we finished the race and that is what we wanted to do,” he said.

He said he managed to finish the race because he had a positive mind to make it to the finish line, adding that it was a tough experience although they started preparations only two years back.

Furthermore, he said his mission was just to follow his dream of competing at the Dakar rally, and he was happy that two years later he was hoisting the country’s flag at the highest race in the world.

Crosbie said that was a clear reference that people should never give up in what they believed in: “if you want to go for your goal, go for it and if you want to follow your dream believe in yourself,” he said. BOPA