12 Aug 2021

Government and private sector partnership is key ahead  of any major games.

Consequently, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Kitso Kemoeng, thanked sponsors who heeded plea to assist sporting structures, citing Debswana and Choppies who made incentive offers to athletes.

However, Kemoeng said there was need for private sector to support teams ahead of major competitions.

He said this during Tokyo 2020 Paralympic team send off-ceremony in Gaborone Wednesday.

Kemoeng said the event marked a momentous day on the country’s journey towards continuing to espouse the cornerstone values of equality, diversity and inclusion by fielding a team to compete at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games.

He indicated that the journey had been marred by difficulties and littered with challenges as a result of COVID-19.

Kemoeng highlighted that the athletes were true conquerors, embodying the paralympic value of determination by successfully going through the qualification process to compete at the games.

While three athletes qualified for the games, only two would take part.  The third one sustained an injury.  

Botswana would be represented by Edwin Masuge in male T13 400 meters and Gloria Majaga in women T13 400 meters. The duo would be accompanied by coach Katlego Maoto, physiotherapist

Colleen Lebanna, Chef de Mission Titus Letshwiti and three other officials.

Paralympic Association of Botswana (PASSOBO) secretary general, Cynthia Masikara, highlighted that the Paralympic Games represented an opportunity for participants to not only showcase their prowess in various sporting disciplines, but to also demonstrate the diversity that existed amongst people.

She thanked the two athletes for the dedication, drive and commitment.

“Your efforts have not gone unnoticed and we are proud to have you within our fold,” she added.

Masikara applauded those who were voluntarily part of the Local Organising Committee as well as their chaperones who had tirelessly been by the athlete’s side and continued to be as they go for Tokyo games.

She said the plight of para-athletes needed to be addressed by all Batswana, working in tandem towards assisting athletes in their quests for greatness.

For his part, BNSC chairperson, Marumo Morule, thanked the government for continuous support to sport, adding that the event was a testimony of that support.

He also thanked PASSOBO board for their efforts in putting the team together and all key stakeholders as well as the parents of athletes for their continued support.

First timer Masuge, said despite being his first appearance at the games, he was going to make the nation proud.  

He highlighted that he was currently ranked number seven in the world, adding that, only that combined with his preparedness would see him to the final.

 “Amongst those who are ranked above me, I am the youngest and that is also a positive for me,” he said.

Masuge urged those who failed to qualify not to give up.

“They have to keep working hard and eventually their hard work would pay off,” he said.

Nineteen year old Majaga said she was very happy and honored to have qualified for Paralympics games.

Majaga who is currently ranked number 17 in the world said she believed that she was going to make it to the finals.

She encouraged those who failed to qualify to keep their heads up, noting that more opportunities would come and they just had to keep preparing for them.

She urged the nation to rally behind the team and pray for them to succeed. ENDS