BAA secretary Moses Moruisi said the team to Helsinki, Finland had not prepared well. “The whole thing centres around preparations.
When they won gold at the All Africa Games in 2003, they had prepared well. They went for training in Europe. This time, they did not have that exposure”.
Moruise said core members of the 4 x 400 relay team - Kagiso Kilego, Oganeditse Moseki and Gaolesiela Salang were not in top form prior to the World Championships.
Hence veteran Californa Molefe was partnered by Tshepo Kelaotswe, Obakeng Ngwigwa, and Gakologelwang Mashetu.
The failure of Botswana’s much acclaimed 4 x 400m relay team to go past the preliminaries on Saturday summed up the sorry performance of the country in Helsinki. The speed of Kilego was sorely missed in Helsinki. The runner has been instrumental in the country’s impressive showings in continental events and the Olympics.
Johnson Kubisa, who has in the past played the role of starter for the relay team retired after a magnificent performance at last year’s Olympics due to old age. The failure of the 4 x 400m relay team summed the performance of African countries in the race in Helsinki.
However, Ethiopia protected the continent’s enviable reputation in the middle and long distance races.
Botswana’s contingent to the competition was missing star performers like Kabelo Mmono, Gable Garenamotse and Glody Dube. On a more positive note Molefe at least made it to the semis after qualifying as the fastest loser in the 400m first round.
