16 Sep 2018

Badminton umpire Emmanuel Kgaboetsile was a surprise winner of the coveted sportsperson of the year award on September 15.

The whistle man reluctantly accepted the accolade before a stunned audience at the 38^th National Sports Awards held at Ba Isago University Convention Centre in Gaborone.

Kgaboetsile’s achievements last year, which saw him beat other household names in the sporting arena to the overall best sportsperson accolade in Botswana, included umpiring 44 matches, including the men’s singles final at the World Senior Championships.

He also umpired at the World Junior Championships and the French Open Super Series. Furthermore, he was appointed to the Africa Badminton technical officials committee.

The award carried a P100 000 cash prize from Debswana Diamond Company.

Kgaboetsile also scooped the umpire/referee of the year award after beating off competition from Dorothy Okachi of basketball and Tshepo Kelaotswe of athletics.

Athletics scooped six accolades during the night with 400m track star Isaac Makwala getting the sportsman of the year award after winning the Diamond League last year and the IAAF World Relays silver medal with the men’s 4X400m relay team.

For the third year running, the men’s 4X400m relay team bagged the national team of the year award.

The team which comprised Baboloki Thebe, Nijel Amos, Makwala, Leaname Maotoanong, Onkabetse Nkobolo and Karabo Sibanda, secured silver a medal at the IAAF World Relays and reached the World Championships sem-finals in London.

Bernard Olesitse and Oarabile Tshosa continued athletics’ good performance on the night by winning the junior sportsman and junior sportswoman of the year award respectively, while national team coach Justice Dipeba scooped the coach of the year award. Botswana Athletics Association won the national sports association of the year award.

Lame Hetanang of Karate won the sportswoman of the year award for the second time after winning it two years ago.

She was gold medalist at the Regional Karate Championships and silver medal at the Africa Senior Championships last year.

Other winners were; Special Olympics runner Thapelo Kelebonye (sportsman with disability), sitting volleyball player Shameela Tumelo from Sitting (sportswoman with disability), Botswana Chess Federation president Motlhokomedi Thabano (sports administrator of the year), Botswana Tennis Association secretary Shelton Benzah (non-citizen sports award), football youth development coach Kenneth Kgari and school sports coaches (chairman’s award).

The media awards winners were: best photographer (Godfrey Mpuse from Botswana Press Agency), best print media house (Mmegi), best print media journalist (Isaac Pheko from Guardian newspaper), best electronic media house (Yarona FM).

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Thapelo Olopeng said the number of medals accrued from international competitions last year were testament of the good performance of Botswana athletes.

He said government will continue investing in sport facilities to give athletes more opportunity to excel.

“As part of our efforts to develop sport, we know and we are sure that we cannot be there without great facilities. Therefore, my ministry for this financial year has set aside P50 million to develop what we call community sport fields in 10 constituencies. In the next financial year, it is our intention to do more by developing infrastructure in this country,” he said.

Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chairperson Solly Reikeletseng said the annual National Sports Awards is an event in which the contribution of different contributors in sport development is recognised.

He said the awards will be held earlier next year between April and June. ENDS