22 Mar 2021

Botswana athletes will  tomorrow  compete at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Athletix Invitational Meet in Roodepoort.

The men’s team is made up of Isaac Makwala, Ditiro Nzamani, Karabo Sibanda, Bayapo Ndori, Zibane Ngozi, who are yet to qualify for the Olympic Games.

The women’s team consists of Amantle Montsho (who has already qualified for the Olympics), Oratile Nowe, Thomphang Basele and Oarabile Mokenane.

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice president, Oabona Theetso, said in an interview that they found it pertinent to send some of the athletes to compete at the invitational meet so as to give them an opportunity to qualify for the Olympics.

He said the team was also expected to compete in another meet on March 27 in Boksburg and go back to Roodepoort again on March 30.

Theetso said despite the fact that the athletes had been inactive, he was confident that the three meets would put then in a good shape.

Meanwhile, a media release from ASA indicate that after the unforeseen one-year lull in competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa’s finest will have the ideal opportunity to hone their skills in a competitive environment as part of their preparations for the Olympics, World Athletics Championships and the World U20 Championships

It says the two-track and field meetings will also be broadcast on SABC and live-streamed on Telkom ONE. “In adherence to strict COVID-19 regulations, spectators will unfortunately not be permitted at the meetings, which will start at 3 pm in a two-hour package,” says the release.

Athletes from the Czech Republic, Latvia, Zimbabwe, Finland, Egypt, Mozambique and eSwatini have already confirmed their participation at Roodepoort. ENDS