08 Oct 2017

Future Botswana athletics poster boy, Karabo Sibanda took centre stage at the 37^th annual Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) Awards, held at Boipuso hall over the weekend.

The Rio 2016 Olympics finalist walked away with the prestigious highly rated Sports Person of the Year Award as well as Junior Male Sports Person of the year.

 Despite having a roller coaster season profoundly mired by injuries, Sibanda defined the odds, by being Botswana’s only finalist at the Rio 2016 Olympics and finishing 5^th in the men’s 400 metres. 

 Over the period under review, Sibanda is ranked second fastest junior 400 metres in the world in 2016 and ranked 9^th overall. 

He is also a bronze medal winner at the 2016 World Junior Athletics Championships which were held in Poland.

His 2016/2017 season accolades include being a team member of the 400 by 400 metres relay which include Baboloki Thebe, Nijel Amos, Isaac Makwala, Leaname Maotoanong and Onkabetse Nkobolo.

 The team ranked 5^th in the world and first in Africa in 2016, reached the finals of the Rio Olympics finishing 5^th while breaking the national record and winning gold at the Africa Senior Championships. 

Sibanda attributed his road to stardom to fellow teammate Isaac Makwala and his athletics coach Mogomotsi Otsetswe.  

He defined Makwala as a mentor and a brother from whom a lot in athletics could be learnt.

In another close to call category, karateka Ofentse Bakwadi saw off tough competition from  800 metres gold medalist at the Africa Senior Championships, Nigel Amos and candidate chess master Thuso Mosutha to clinch the  sportsman of the year award.

Botswana Chess Federation  won the Sport Code of the Year Award ahead of Botswana Cricket Association and Botswana Athletics Association. 

The chess  federation also  got an icing on their cake as  chess sensation, Onkementse Francis  walked away with the sportswoman of the year award while chess administrator Tshenolo Maruatona  received the administrator award.

After writing history for being the first Motswana to represent the country at the Dakar rally, Vincent Crosby was awarded the chairperson award.

Other award winners were: Estony Pridge  of Judo (non citizen sport award), Men 4 X 400m Relay ( national team of the year), Mogomotsi Otsetswe –athletics (coach of the year), Joshua Bondo – football(umpire/ referee of the year), BOTESSA (group code of the year), Nonofo Zigwa  - Special Olympics (woman sportsperson with disability), Keatlaretse Mabote – PASSOBO ( sportsperson with disability).

In the media awards, Dailynews’ Gothusang Lesego won for the second time in a row the photographer of the year award, while Mmegi won the print media house award. Duma fm was crowned electronic media house of the year while Yarona fm’s Martin Fanie was named electronic journalist of the year.

Meanwhile in his keynote address, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mr. Thapelo Olopeng indicated that government will continue to reward those who excel in sports as true ambassadors and gives  Botswana the international publicity it deserves.

 He said over P3.5 million has so far been disbursed as incentives towards athletes and their welfare. 

He however urged the private sector to also come on board and invest in sports, particularly at grass roots development. BOPA