06 Jan 2020

Some people think that if one has played any kind of sport they can easily qualify to coach it.

Some think coaching is a calling while some say it is a profession like any other, hence coaches go for formal training.

For Basiame Molatlhiwa of Mopipi, coaching is both a calling and a profession.

He coaches softball and athletics and all his teams perform exceptionally well.

Many in the sports fraternity consider him to be one of the best coaches in the country as his presence is felt in every competition.

In an interview, Molatlhiwa, who is a teacher by profession, revealed that commitment, passion and discipline had earned him accolades and to be a coach of note, saying his journey in sports dates back to his schooling at junior level.

He describes coaching as one of those jobs where one’s professional effectiveness is always on the spotlight, measured by something that is very often totally out of one’s control: winning and losing.

The profession, he says, is not easy as sometimes it can be frustrating, hence it calls for someone with a big heart and a fair amount of flexibility.

Molatlhiwa says being a coach is putting oneself in a highly visible position that continually exposes them to public scrutiny and evaluation.

A remarkable and much accredited coach whose deeds are well documented be it locally, nationally, regionally and internationally, he led national teams to major competitions.

Molatlhiwa produced quality sportsmen and women in the likes of renowned 400 metre sprinter Karabo Sibanda, Gideon Puaka and Kunyelela Samuel, who play for the national and junior teams.

He has acquired certificates for International Softball Federation level 1 and 2 and level 1 in IAAF in Beijing, China in 2017.

He also holds a degree in sports management.

He is one coach who believes that a coach who is accredited should show their commitment to quality coaching through constant updating of skills and knowledge.

Molatlhiwa recalls some of the major softball competitions he attended such as American Junior Men World Champions in 2016, Ontario Junior Women World Champions in 2013, where his teams performed well.

“We managed to beat some big names such as Israel, Denmark and South Africa for the first time in history,” he added.

Nationally, he has been dominating the Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) competitions.

For many years his teams from Tsodilo Junior Secondary School has been doing extremely well in softball and crowned the champion for the past 10 years.

He also coaches Team North West for Botswana Games, which are held every two years and his teams never disappoint.

Some sports structures acknowledge and recognise his efforts as in 2012 BISA awarded him a certificate for being an outstanding coach while in Zone North, he received three awards as the best coach.

Molatlhiwa, who proved to be an offensive coach, revealed that he had produced best players in betting and pitching, adding that most of his players were dominating in national teams.

“I am proud that softball has attracted a lot of attention as boys and girls were coming forth and adapt easily,” he said.

He acknowledged Dr Omponye Kereteletswe, the then junior school coach as the man behind his successes, noting that he inspired him.

Good coaches, he said, inspire their players to do more than they think they can. Narrating the story of his coaching journey, he said it started in 1995 while serving as a Tirelo Sechaba participant at Shakawe Junior Secondary School.

He said he coached the school’s softball teams, which were not performing well and managed to elevate them until they reached the national competitions.

Shakawe school teams became regulars at the national competitions and always emerged champions.

“My teams become the force of reckon with as for the first time they managed to reach finals in the national competitions and emerged victorious,” he added.

After completion of his national service, he said he enrolled with Tonota College of Education and his softball coaching skills matured as he also coached the college teams. During vacations, he said he also assisted local clubs such as Dinare Ladies softball team in Gaborone and currently the team is in the limelight as it has collected nine medals so far.

 Molathiwa, who now coaches Tsodilo school teams, said both boys and girls teams had a bright future. Since 2002 to date, the school has been terrorising others at BISA competitions as it was either the boys or girls becoming the champion or walking away with silver.

In 2017, both teams went away with gold, in 2018, the boys’ team got silver and this year they were crowned the champions.

His philosophy is simple, giving back what one has been able to learn from other coaches. “A coach must give attention and instruction to all players and attempt to make them all feel part of the team,” he added. Ends