09 Oct 2019

Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) sports development director, Bobby Gaseitsiwe, has expressed concern over injuries that continue to hamper athletes performance in international stage.

Speaking at Team Botswana’s welcome ceremony on October 8, he said in the past, some athletes, coaches and associations disregarded medical advice in order to compete.

 “If we are to compete at an international level, this should stop. The BNSC has also employed a full time physiotherapist to assist athletes,” he said.

Team Botswana was in Doha for the IAAF World Championships, but it was robbed by injuries that hit, amongst others, Nijel Amos and Galefele Moroko. The women relay team could not compete due to injuries.

He said as per his organisations’ policy, the BNSC provided medical assistance to all national team athletes, who were injured while on national duty sanctioned by BNSC.

Gaseitsiwe said also the BNSC could request for medical tests to confirm athlete’s fitness.

He, however, said although they had the policy in place, they were powerless when it came to controlling participation of athletes while unfit.

Gaseitsiwe said given the events that transpired in Doha, sport development should be top of agenda.

He said development was a process, therefore it could take several years.

“We, therefore, call on associations to put structures in place and in the case of BAA, you have to make use of IAAF kids athletics programme, exploit Debswana Re Ba Bona Ha programme and other BNSC programmes,” he said.

Botswana Athletics Association president (BAA), Botlhale Phaphane said despite not making it to the podium, the athletes represented the country with pride. He said BAA had noted some athletes recording Personal Best (PB) at the competition, adding that had it not be the injuries, they could have won some medals.

“We have learnt lessons from Doha, but we have good building block to build on the journey, it is another journey, we are continuing. Tokyo 2020 is coming, we already have three athletes who have qualified.We are still going to make sure that the relay teams also qualifies,” he said. ENDS