10 Dec 2020

Ngamiland leaders have applauded sports men and women from the district who excelled at the recent Botswana Sports Awards. 

The councillors appreciated the likes of Kareng-born 400m sprinter, Leungo Scotch for his stellar performance as he won two significant awards.

Scotch scooped the prestigious top honour of Sportsperson of the Year award, which was sponsored by Debswana with P100 00 as well as Sportsman of the year award.

Gaefele Moroko from Tsau, also made the district proud by scooping Sportswoman of the Year award, while Maun-born Kebonyemodisa Mosimanyane of athletics scooped Coach of the Year award.

Councillors said during the ongoing council meeting that there was need to recognise efforts done by sportsmen and women as they continued to put the district on the map. 

“It is important to celebrate success as a district as thus will motivate our sportsmen and women as well as their coaches to do more,” said Moetetsi Mogalakwe of Makalamabedi ward.

He noted that it was time to recognise efforts by sportsperson in the district as they had contributed significantly to the development of sports in the country.

In addition, he said historically, Ngamiland region was an area with wealth of talent in terms of sport performance and development in the country.

He also noted that besides athletics, the district did well in other sports codes such as volleyball, netball and football. 

Mogalakwe cited that some teams from the district outclassed others last year at the national constituency tournament held in Molepolole. Women’s volleyball team emerged the champions at the tournament, while men’s team scooped position two and netball team got position one respectively. 

For his part, North West District Council chairperson, Kebareeditse Ntsogotlho concurred that there was need to celebrate such achievements. The sportspersons, he said had hoisted the country’s flag and put the district on the map.

Ntsogotlho appreciated that some had become professional athletes and in the process making fortunes.

Meanwhile, unlike other regions, Ngamiland  district had contributed significantly in development and growth of sport in the country as talented athletes were unearthed from the region in the likes of Gabriel Garenamotse, Amantle Montsho, Ruri Ramokolodi and Karabo Sibanda among others, who had become professional athletes and in the process making fortunes.

Scotch and Moroko also joined the wagon as they had already represented the country in some international competitions. Moroko made the country proud in 2013, when she emerged the most valuable female performer at the International Schools Sports Federation held in the Czech Republic of Sokolov. 

She also won herself a bronze medal at the African Youth Championship in Nigeria. 

On the other hand, Scotch won a gold medal at All Africa Games and the win earned him a spot at the IAAF World Champions. Ends