05 May 2019

The Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA), Botswana Primary School Sports Association (BOPSSA)

team, which represented Botswana at the just ended COSSASA Games had emerged victorious after putting up a gallant fight against their competitors.

The week-long games were held in Manzini, eSwatini.

Team Botswana, which had a target of accumulating 24 gold medals fought to the bitter end, something which saw them exceeding their target by four more medals.

The local lads managed to amasse 28 gold medals, 33 silver and 35 bronze from different disciplines.

Though it was not an easy competition, the team came into the games a determined lot as they stamped their authority from the first day when they managed to get some few gold medals.

The first day, which was mainly long distances, the local lads had an uphill battle as they had to pass a tough test from the Zimbabweans and Namibians.

It was only Austin Botshabelo in the 1 500m race who sent a clear message to the competitors that Team Botswana was on a mission.

They went on to make a meal of their opponents in the sprints as they amassed more medals and in some instances making a clean sweep at the podium.

The lanky local lad fought fiercely to shrug off tough competition from boys from Zimbabwe bagging a gold which has been known to be the preserve of Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Their fierce rivals Zimbabwe came second with 27 gold, 29 silver and 27 bronze medals while Namibia came third with 26, 15 and 16 respectively.

Another thing that was worth noting was the fact that local athletes did well in areas like hurdles, which have in the past troubled them.

In an interview, Team Botswana chef de mission, Joshua Gaotlhobogwe said he was impressed with the way the team performed.

He said they managed to get the team to camp and train together for some time before the competitions, saying it was for that reason that they managed to break their record and in the process beat their bitter rivals in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Gaotlhobogwe said though there were some hurdles along the way, they managed to overcome those and now the results show how hard they have worked.

During the closing ceremon, COSSASA president Solomon Duiker decried that some regions did not take the competitions serious though it was a breeding ground for future stars. ENDS