18 Apr 2017

With only four days left before the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2017 scheduled for April 22-23 in Nassau, the athletes and the coach are confident that they will finish on the podium.

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) has assembled a formidable team which is capable of conquering the kings of 4x400m USA men’s relay team at the competitions to be held at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

However Botswana should also be weary of the host Bahamas given that they have also named a very arduous side which if not checked could make life miserable for both USA and Botswana.

Although Botswana might be an under-dog on paper, athletics pundits are of the view that if there was any team that could stop USA dominance in the 4x400m men’s relay was Botswana.

The team’s coach Mogomotsi Otsetswe is fully aware of that hope and he said in an interview that they were preparing very well for the relays.

He said currently both his teams were injury free, morale was high in camp, adding that their mission was to compete.

“Last year in the men’s relay we finished on position eight and ultimately qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games but this year we managed to rectify our mistakes, hence we picked our 400 metres athletes who have recorded good times in their races,” he said.

Mogomotsi further said they were prepared for any country and the athletes aim was to make the country proud.

Baboloki Thebe who is part of the relay team expressed confidence that they would finish on the podium.

“We have been training very well, and all athletes are focused. Our aim is to conquer the World and what I can tell you is that we will not disappoint. We might bring gold home,” he said.

Karabo Sibanda said they were expecting not less than a gold medal, given that in Rio one of their strongest team mate Baboloki Thebe was not in the race due to injury.

“This time we will put a good fight. As we speak, Baboloki is in top two in the World and I am on top three, we train as a unit and that alone is going to help us, as I hand the baton to Baboloki who will then hand it to Makwala,” he said.

Amantle Montsho said as for the women’s 4x400m they have done their assignment well and they would record a very impressive time.

“Our desire is to smash our own record. If we happen to finish on the podium it would be a big bonus for us, we are going to face strong teams like Jamaica but we are not going there to add numbers, we are going to compete,” she said.

Lydia Jele said she was confident that they would qualify for the World Championships, because they have a very robust team.

The women team will be on track in the early morning on April 23 at 2:17 am while the men team will race at 2:53 am.

The 4x400m women relay team consists of Lydia Jele, Amantle Montsho, Christine Botlogetswe, Goitseone Seleka, Galefele Moroko, Oarabile Babolau and Loungo Matlhaku.

In the 4x400m men’s team there is Baboloki Thebe, Karabo Sibanda, Boitumelo Masilo, Isaac Makwala, Onkabetse Nkobolo and Pako Seribe.

Whereas the mixed relay is made up of Leaname Maotoanong, Lydia Jele, Pako Seribe and Amantle Montsho. The team will leave for Bahamas on Wednesday. BOPA