19 Sep 2013

Galefele Moroko is the kind of girl who likes occupying the back seat in the midst of large crowds and shies away from the media by all means, but watch her on track she is a different person.

To make the setting a bit relaxed, we visit Galefele in her home village, Tsau, on a Sunday afternoon where we find her studying under a tree in her mother’s household. Just like on the track, she looks reserved and shy as she constantly covers her face with her top but eventually recuperates with the support of her uncle and coach.

Galefele’s uncle who is sitting by her side assists her to respond to questions as he keenly explains and reminds her of her history and achievements as a runner. At the age of 16, Galefele has shown so much potential in the 400m race and surely stolen the hearts of athletics lovers with her boyish figure as she shows seasoned runners one or two things in local competitions.

In addition to accolades from her community, ‘Gale’ as she is popularly known to her legions of fans, made the country proud in June when she emerged the most valuable female performer at the International Schools Sport Federation in the Czech Republic town of Sokolov. The Tsau born registered her personal best time of 54:44 which earned her the prestigious gold medal.

Galefele is surely destined for greatness considering what she has achieved at a young age and all the support from her family, school and Batswana. The calm Gale has always been a track queen from a tender age as she notes that she used to scoop position one in the North West region while at Tsau Primary School.

The runner says the Sokolov experience still plays out vividly on her mind when it was announced that she is the most valuable female performer after outclassing athletes from England, China, Brazil, France and Australia, among others.

With her track record, Gale is arguably in the premium league of the outstanding junior athletes in Botswana who at this point needs nurturing and proper guidance. She is indeed a dynamite in a small package having set a new Confederation of School Sport Association of Southern Africa (COSSASA) record in the 400m in Zimbabwe with a 55:15 as her peers looked on in admiration.

Gale won herself a bronze medal at the African Youth Championships in Nigeria and was a nominee at this year’s Botswana National Sports Council awards under the female junior athlete category. The Sekgoma Junior Secondary School form three student is a jewel in the school and village as everyone describes her as an investment for the country.

The sky is the limit for the 16-year old as she highlights that she would love to follow in the footsteps of world champion, Amantle Montsho, and become a professional runner in future. Raised under a watchful eye of her family, Gale is one lucky girl as from time to time her parents mentor her on the importance of investing in her future. Her uncle, Kebontse Moroko, says they always sit with her and tell her how important it is to protect her talent.

Moroko says Gale is a flower that blossomed in his eyes, noting that he watched her win races at a tender age and knew then that the girl was God given. He further states that he wishes to see his niece prosper in athletics so that she can give back to her parents who raised her. Her school coach, Mopati Rankunyana, says the school always rallies behind her in her sporting endeavours and ensures that she knows she is an investment for the school.

He indicates that not only do they focus on enriching her in sport but also impart her with life skills which will benefit her even if she is no longer a student. The coach highlights that the school and the promising athlete’s parents work well towards building Gale a successful sporting career in that the parents are always willing to release her for any sports activity.

“Her talent inspires other children in school and I am certain that our school will produce good athletes to follow in her footsteps,” he notes. ENDS