25 Aug 2021

The national Under 20 athletics team coach says he is happy that his charges outdid themselves at the World Under 20 Athletics Championships.

The team had a target of three medals, but came home with four (three gold and one silver).

Speaking in an interview, coach Chilume Ntshwarang, said the team’s dedication and level of competition was high.

However, he decried lack of support, adding that if they had enough support before the competition, the team could have performed far much better.

“In most cases, our athletes are supported after performing well, but we believe they should be afforded that support from the beginning,” he said.

Ntshwarang urged stakeholders and sponsors to familiarise themselves with the athletes’ needs before competitions.

The coach said if the athletes were given enough support during their preparations for major games, they would perform exceptionally well and attract sponsors who would then assist in turning them into international stars.

He highlighted that there was need for development programmes such as out of school camps where they could spend enough time with athletes.

“We used to have programmes where we spent around four months with them in camp and such initiatives have potential to bring great results,” he said.

Ntshwarang said the idea was to maintain and grow the team in order to compete at the world stage.

For his part, Letsile Tebogo, who brought home a gold medal and silver said he was happy about their achievements as a team and proud to be the first Motswana to win the country a 100-metre gold medal.

He highlighted that upon their departure to Kenya, he assured his coach that he was going there for battle and ready to win. “When I started the competition, I did just that. I fought as a soldier, determined to win the battle,” he said.

Tebogo said his vision was now to work hard and grow in order to continue flying the national flag high.

“I assure Batswana that I will keep on making them proud,” he said.

He appealed to other athletes not to give up if they did not get the desired results, adding that hard work, passion and patience would pay off in time.

Anthony Pesela, 400-metre gold medalist, whose win qualified him for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in the United States indicated that he was happy about his performance as well as for his qualification, adding that he was now going to prepare for next year with a relaxed mind.

He said being part of a 4x400 relay team that went to Tokyo Olympics contributed to his success at the World Under 20 Athletics Championships.

“Even though I did not participate at the Olympics, just being there, seeing how things were done gave me experience that assisted me now,” he said.

Pesela said his target was to break his personal best.

He urged upcoming athletes to desist from alcohol and drug use, adding that it took hard work, lot of time as well as patience to succeed.

He also thanked his parents and Batswana in general for their support. ENDS