26 Aug 2024

One of the Paris 2024 Olympic medalists, Leungo Scotch has shared details of his rise to stardom with Maun residents during their home coming ceremony recently. 

   Scotch said he realized his talent while doing standard three and never looked back, more so that he was not academically gifted.       

   Although his parents pushed him to focus on his studies, he said he followed his passion.  

   He said athletics shaped his life as he managed to excel in various competitions both nationally and internationally.

  Scotch also shared that sports taught him discipline and that it could be used to generate income and unite people.

 “I have never tasted alcohol. I just played it sober and won big. Today, I am reaping the economic benefits of my hard work, thanks to my parents, community and the government for such great support along my journey,” he added.

He urged parents to encourage their children to take part in sport, saying it has a lot of benefits and also helped in creating healthier generations. 

Scotch asked the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture (MYSC) to prioritise maintenance of Maun Sports Complex.

    He said this is in consideration of Nhabe region contributing significantly to the development and growth of sport in the country.

Scotch appealed to Minister Honourable Tumiso Rakgare to consider refurbishing the facility.

“This is the facility that I trained in to become the champion I am today, but currently it is in a poor state. I plead with you my minister to consider maintaining the facility to match the international standards,” he added.

MYSC in collaboration with Ministry of Health, sport celebrities, Alcohol Ley Fund and other stakeholders also had the opportunity to share messages of ‘Fokotsa dino, play sober, win strong’ campaign in relation to mindset change initiative.

The campaign was graced by former national athletes, Amantle Montsho and Onkabetse Nkobolo. Nkobolo testified that sport was fun and also rewarding if one took it seriously, calling on youth to refrain from social ills that could destroy their future. 

He said sport could help them to develop sound habits, self-responsibility and teamwork.

“I was a national team athlete and I moved to Spain in 2013. When I came back in 2018, I hanged out with some friends and now I am wheelchair bound. 

As such, I urge you fellow youth to abstain from alcohol and drug abuse because they can destroy your future,” he added.

Nkobolo, who won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games also emphasized the need to drill athletes on financial literacy so that they could manage their finances responsibly as well as invest wisely. Ends