25 Feb 2018

President of Botswana Tertiary Students Sports Association (BOTESSA) Herbert Letsebe has urged athletes to use BOTESSA games as a launching pad to securing their places at the Confederation of University and College Sports Association Games coming in June.

Speaking during bracket C games athletics competitions held at Serowe Sports Complex on Saturday, Letsebe warned athletes against complacency and reminded them of the importance of the games as a precursor to the CUCSA Games.

“You should not take these games for granted,” Letsebe appealed during the official opening of the Games before adding that the Games were not just a fun exercise.

BOTESSA president informed athletes that sports coordinators, whom he lauded as committed and often sacrificing, were in action selecting all deserving athletes to compete with other athletes from universities and colleges from other nine countries.

He also informed the competing athletes of the national competitions to be held in Gaborone where a final BOTESSA athletics team will be selected.

As a warning, Letsebe appealed to the winning athletes to prepare thoroughly for the finals in the capital city before urging losing candidates to try their luck with ball sports to be held in Selebi Phikwe in due course.

Area councillor Solomon Dikgang emphasised the importance of sports especially at schools where athletes are developed into future national icons.

He said games such as BOTESSA’s were crucial to the country and as such called on athletes to put stoppage to taking sports merely for entertainment.

The civic leader cited world renowned athletes to drive home the importance of sports as a means of survival for the gifted and committed athletes. He emphasised how sport had become big money generating avenue by which athletes could eke a living.

He credited government through Botswana National Sports Council for commitment to elevating the level of sports in the country.

During the games, despite Letsebe having called for notching up their level, many athletes performed at alarmingly poor levels especially ladies long races.

However, some had put scintillating spectacles that fed the spectators the right recipes of every reason to stay glued at the dark maroon rubber track for the entire Saturday. The special needs 100m category was such a show.

Upon hitting the ground, set off by the gun, the two male athletes sweat it out much to the roar of spectators, majority of whom sat at the grand stand. Ends