10 Aug 2017

Botswana relay teams are expected to redeem the country’s pride on Saturday (August 12) at the ongoing IAAF World Championships.

Both the women’s and men’s 4x400 metres teams will compete in the heats where only three teams will proceed to the semi-finals.

However, all eyes will be on the men’s relay team after missing a gold medal by a whisker during the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2017 held at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium in Nassau.

The team finished in position two behind the USA.

However, athletics pundits are of the view that if Team Botswana is psychologically alert, it has what it takes to stop Team USA.

In Bahamas, the USA was boosted by the fact that Botswana was running with a limping team after Baboloki Thebe and Isaac Makwala had picked injuries.

This time the team has no injuries and with Nijel Amos in the mix, the team is much stronger.

The team’s coach, Justice Dipeba said in an interview that the team was initially affected by Makwala’s issue.

He said they did everything to keep the team calm and focused.

He added that training continued as usual, and that the Wednesday training was impressive.

“After seeing Makwala run and qualify for the final, it changed the morale of the team. Everyone is now positive that we will do well. We are ready and we will do all it takes to do well,” he said.

However, sports journalist, Bapati Montlanyane said in his opinion, the women’s relay was more likely to make it to the final, although a podium finish was unlikely.

He said individual performances in 400m spoke volumes about countries in contention, noting that the USA had dominated the event over the years, adding that two of their athletes finished on the podium in the individual 400m race

He said the Bahamas has proved  to be a nation of relay specialists, adding that another emerging force to reckon with was Jamaica, saying they were strong contenders.

So I think if Montsho and the rest of the team could make it to the final, that would be enough for them.

He, however, added that qualification was also not a given.

“My guess is if the team does not make in the automatic qualification spot, they might go through among the fastest losers,” he said.

For the men's team, Montlanyane said it was unfortunate how they missed on a podium finish in the Rio Olympic Games.

“But this time around, the scene is different as Makwala and Thebe’s form gives hope that we can strike silver or bronze, but that would take a lot of character and effort. Already we have a huge blow in Karabo Sibanda as he is looking rusty,” he said.

However, he said it was an opportunity for coaches to juggle the team and bring in Onkabetse Nkobolo, adding that he was instrumental in the team winning a silver medal in Bahamas.

He said coaches should prepare the team given that it would face stiff competition from the USA, Bahamas and Jamaica. ENDS