03 Nov 2020

National athletics team coach, Justice Dipeba, has decried lack of consultation following Botswana Athletics Association’s (BAA) release of this year calendar of events.

Dipeba said in interview that he was disappointed that BAA came up with a programme without involving coaches.

According BAA, the first competition would be on November 21 in Francistown followed by another on November 28 in Gaborone. 

The association would also host competitions on December 5 in Francistown and on December 19 in Gaborone.

Dipeba, who is also UB athletics coach, was of the view that they would not be able to compete as early as BAA wanted them to ‘because they had called our season off and our focus was to go and compete next year,’ he said.

He said athletes were not ready to compete in the next three weeks. 

“They should have consulted us so that we are part of it. We train our athletes knowing that we are preparing for next season, but we only saw the time table in the social media,” he said

He said a UB athletics were not in a position to compete and he had spoken to his colleagues, who also made it clear that they were not prepared to compete as per the BAA calendar.

Dipeba said BAA could have consulted teams and coaches to find out if they would be ready to bring athletes to competitions.

He, however, said he did not rule out the possibility that some athletes might be ready to compete, adding that from UB’s camp, none of the athletes would be ready in the next three weeks

Isaac Makwala, Christine Botlogetswe, Oarabile Babolayi, Leungo Matlhaku, and Leaname Maotoanong are some of elite athletes under coach Dipeba.

Maun athletics coach, Kebonyemodisa ‘Dose’ Mosimanyane said he was aware that BAA had scheduled track and field alongside cross country.

“So basically we are starting general preparation phase on Monday and the first eight weeks we can’t really compete. So we might only take part in competitions that will be held late December, but we will definitely be competing from January going forward,” he said.

He however said athletes resumed training this week, although a small number started two weeks ago. 

He said the plan was to have athletes running good times from late February to early March to be able to run well at the Gaborone International Meet in April and to seek Tokyo games qualification.

Mosimanyane said the world relays would be in May, adding that the intention was to have all relay teams ready by then. 

BAA, vice president-sport development, Tshepo Kelaotswe said they consulted all stakeholders including coaches when drawing the plan. ENDS