26 Jul 2018

When the 21st African Senior Championships starts next week Wednesday in Asaba, Delta-State of Nigeria, Africa will miss their own ambassador, 400 metres specialist, Isaac Makwala.

Makwala sustained hamstring tendon tear during the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, in the IAAF Diamond League meeting on May 26 while competing in the 200 metres event.

The Championships will be used as a qualifier for the fourth coming IAAF Continental Cup to be held in Ostrava, Czech Republic in September.

Now, the athletics communities will definitely miss Makwala’s trade mark, the yellow sleeve and press-ups after the race, both at the African Senior Championships and the Continental Cup.

However, all eyes will be now on the 400 metres Africa defending champion, Baboloki Thebe to defend the title he won two years ago in Durban, South Africa.

Makwala said in an interview, that he had not fully recovered. Despite the fact that he would have loved to compete at the African Senior Championships and ultimately qualify to represent Africa at the Continental Cup, he did not want to strain the injury.

Full recovery, he said was inevitable for athletes so as to avoid recurring injuries, which he said was the main enemy in their day to day business.

He however said he was confident with a pool of athletes selected to represent Botswana in Asaba.
“All the best to all of them and I am confident that they are ready for the competition and this a good chance for Leungo Scotch to run an individual 400 metres and prove himself because I think he also has a potential. He is the only new comer in the team. The rest, they know what to do,” he said.

New Telegraph newspaper, Nigerian journalist Charles Ogundiya said it was going to be a great miss for Africa, as the CAA Senior Athletics Championship was meant to be for the best on the continent.

He said Makwala was one of the best in Africa and the fans would surely miss him, adding that his absence would also affect the continent’s selection for the Continental championship.

“This African meet is going to serve as the qualifier and missing it means he is not going to be part of Team Africa. It is so unfortunate. I wish him all the best and quick recovery,” he said.

Kenya’s Daily Nation sports writer, Ayumba Ayodi said Makwala’s showmanship would be missed, particularly that he can be likened to Usain Bolt.

Furthermore, he said the athlete would be missed at the championships after winning 400 metres title in 2012 and 2014 in Porto Novo Marrakech respectively.

“Makwala was a hot favourite.Now it’s for Thebe to take it. Emmanuel Korir who won the 400m during the trials in 44.21 will take on Nijel Amos in 800m,”he said.

Another Nigerian journalist, Yemi Nyela Olus said it would have been great to see Makwala compete in Asaba because that would have raised the bar of the championships, considering that ‘he is one of the best athletes in the world over the 400m and 200m.’

“I was hoping that he would aim for a third African Champs title. He will be greatly missed in Asaba and I’m sure Botswana will miss him too,” she said.

Meanwhile, a press release from Botswana Athletics Association has indicated that Amantle Montsho has also been dropped from the team due to an injury. ENDS