Molopo on Makwala’s athletic gift
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday December 11, 2021 06:00
Molopo identified and unearthed Makwala’s athletic talent. The coach attended the launch of ‘The Solo Runner’ on Tuesday at the Mascom Innovation Hub in Phakalane. Molopo told Mmegi Sport that he met Makwala at the Brigade and he had a passion for running.
“I realised that he had the abilities and passion while others could not see that he had the potential of going far in athletics. I analysed him after seeing his potential. Despite not having trained as a coach that did not stop me from working with him. I did research online and used the material to train him. We did that and he was corporative. When I set time for training, he showed up,” he said. Molopo was able to establish that Makwala’s height and strides were suitable for 400m than his initial focus on 200m. Molopo said he wanted to see Makwala joining the national team. He explained that he had been following athletics for some time and realised that some athletes were not performing at their best. Molopo said Makwala had something special and it was going to be easy for him to join the national team.
“He competed in club championships and I eventually took him to the Francistown Athletics Club. When he joined the national team I was still his coach. That made me very proud,” he said. However, Molopo expressed disappointment saying in sport it is not easy to get recognised.
He said in the end, he tried to request the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) when they have courses for coaches, but that never materialised. Molopo said he does not regret what he did for Makwala. “I am delighted to see where Makwala is today. His life has changed. The good part is that he never forgets about me, whenever he is interviewed, he mentions my name. He never forgets where he comes from,” Molopo said.
He said Makwala did a good thing by publishing his story because it will motivate the upcoming generation of athletes. He said even at this juncture he still wants to learn more about athletics so that he could produce more Makwalas.