23 Aug 2021

Botswana has left an inedible mark in the world of athletics following an outstanding performance at the just ended World Under 20 Athletics Championships in Kenya.

Botswana won three gold medals and a silver, thanks to 400 metres runner, Anthony Pesela, Letsile Tebogo (100 and 200m) and the men’s 4 x 400 metres relay team made up of Busang Kebinatshipi, Pesela, Oreeditse Masede and Phenyo Majama.

In the 2016  U-20  championships in Poland, Botswana won two medals; a silver for the 4x 400 metres men’s relay team and one bronze medal by Karabo Sibanda, while Baboloki Thebe was disqualified for lane infringement.

This time around, Botswana took position seven out of 35 countries, compared to number 27 in 2016.

Former Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) secretary, Patrick Moesi, said the junior 4x400m team’s performance was a breath of fresh air and an assurance that there would be continuity.

He said the country should  keep the momentum going, adding that the juniors were going to offer more options going into next year’s Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championships.

Moesi said the whole team had performed well, most notably being the two individual medals won by Tebogo.

He said the country, therefore, needed to build onto the success to improve further and diversify into short sprints as well.

He said there was also need to amplify the role of school sports in early talent discovery, arguing that teachers remained an important part of the development of athletes and should be empowered to continue.

Moesi said for Botswana to increase its chances of winning at international level, there was need to continue promoting other events, especially field events.

“There should be a deliberate effort to encourage more participation by athletes and coaches in field events. In fact there is need to invest in the development of coaches for field events and other specialised events like hurdles,” he said.

Furthermore, Moesi said Botswana already had a high number of former athletes who performed at the highest level under the guidance of coaches from Cuba.

“Those need to be brought back to the sport and trained to ensure that they utilise their experience in nurturing younger athletes,” he said.

Meanwhile team coach, Chilume Ntshwarang, said he was happy with the performance, saying the athletes had demonstrated that Botswana was ready to compete with the world.

“Gone are the days where we used to glorify countries such as Jamaica and United States of America. This is our time and all these countries are now feeling our presence and they respect us,” he said.

The coach said there was need to resuscitate all structures to provide a solid feeder team from the grassroots.

Ntshwarang also called for a solid supporting system for the girl child.

“For Amantle Montsho to be where she is today is because she was in Dakar in a high performance centre and that is why she stayed in the game for more than 10 years, winning medals for the country,” he said.

The only female athlete, 100 metres’ Boitshepiso Kelapile was knocked out in the heats, while Jayson Mandoze of 100 metres and 4 x100 metres men were disqualified for false starts. ENDS