26 Jun 2018

Botswana sensational jumper Kabelo Kgosiemang will be out for some time due to an injury he sustained during training.

The five-time African champion said in an interview that he sustained a leg injury some weeks back, adding that he underwent a successful surgery at Gaborone Private Hospital.

He said according to the medical report he would be in a good position to train in October.

That means he is going to miss the 21^st African Senior Championships to be held in Asaba, Nigeria from August 1.

“Basically I will be out for the whole season and one of my goals was to win at the Senior Championships. Remember the last one in Durban I finished on position five. So I had thought it is my time to once again do well and represent Africa at the 2018 IAAF Continental Cup,” he said.

The 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games bronze medalist said he would have to go through rehabilitation first before resuming training.

He said despite nursing an injury he always find time to motivate other high jumpers, adding he was confident that during his absence other jumpers like Tshwanelo Aabobe and Logic Motshwaredi “will keep the candle burning”.

“I think the two have potential. So I want to start to work and prepare them for upcoming competitions by giving them tips.To be honest, I want to mentor a group of five jumpers who I can work with and I want to start in July,” he said.

Kgosiemang further said the initiative followed his realisation that currently there was no coach who specialised in field events in Botswana.

He said he aimed to defend his title next year and would consider giving back to the community by coaching some of the high jumpers.

“Botswana has potential in field events but the area is not given much attention, hence it is now important for me to start something because I know all the challenges,” he said.

Kgosiemang won  the African Championships gold medals in 2006 in Bambous, Mauritius with a jump of  2.30m, in 2008 and in Addis Ababa he did 2.34m.

He jumped 2.19m in Nairobi in 2010, two years later in Porto Novo, Benin he did 2.25m, and 2.28m in Marrakech in 2014, emerging champion in all instances. ENDS