Gov't to reward Ultimate Championship team

Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday September 15, 2026 10:11

For his achievement, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi will receive P150, 000 after winning the men's 400m race. On the other hand, Letsile Tebogo will pocket P100, 000 for position two finish for the men’s 200m and a further P20, 000 for position seven finish for the men’s 100m race. Kebinatshipi will also receive $150, 000 (P2,017,960.50) from World Athletics while Tebogo will be rewarded with $75, 000 ( P1, 051,860) for the 200m silver medal and $12, 000 (P161,385.49) for the 100m position seventh finish.

BNSC director of sport development, Peaceful Seleka, told Sport Monitor that the Ultimate Championship is the same level as the World Athletics Championships and the incentives are the same.

He explained the championship is new and it is something that will be now be included under the BNSC Rewards and Incentives Policy.

Meanwhile, Kebinatshipi continued his domination of the one lap, proving that his performance during the season was not a fluke.

Speaking to the media after lifting the Ultimate trophy, Kebinatshipi said self believe is important.

“The past two years I was not on top because of mental strength and I doubted myself, ever since I started winning I have realised that as athletes we are the same and when I line up against anybody, we are the same. I have stopped doubting myself, I believed in the training programme and everything that I have been doing at training,” he told journalists.

“Ever since winning the men’s 400m title at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, my life changed, more doors opened for me but I do not ike to celebrate that much compared to other athletes because it was the beginning and meant a lot.

“Winning that title was not part of our plan and it came early which was a good sign of what will happen next the next year.”

Kebinatshipi noted that some people have been concerned about him burning out, but that was not going to happen because he had planned for it.

According to the athlete, next year season, he is not going for the World Record but continue making Sub 43 his daily bread, adding that he will for the record in the next three years.

For his part, Kebinatshipi’s coach, Chilume ‘Chippa’ Ntshwarang told Sport Monitor that the triumph feels real because it was the main target and there were signs throughout the season that they are within range to do it.

“Kebinatshipi was racing to win it but the main approach was to do it differently from other races,” Ntshwarang said.

“The season was amazing and an unforgettable one, breaking the national record three times and going fifth in the all time top list, with the 43.39s victory is simply amazing.”

Meanwhile Olympic champion, Tebogo, said they switched to strictly sprints training programme and happy about how it came about.

Tebogo explained that it is all about trial and error until they get it right and that will not take long time.

“I have seen a lot of things but I believe Beijing 2027 World Championship is going to be amazing for Botswana. Kebinatshipi had a good season, I believe those legs will still be there in Beijing and Olympics,” he said.

“We will see what happens after Olympics, I agree with him that he wants to try to other events. As for me I have also done other events, maybe in future I can spice other things or even throw in hurdles.”

Tebogo added there were doubts in the training programme to a point that they wanted to close the season after Brussels Diamond League final because he had a bad race.

He said everything had to do with the mental strength in order to pull off a good season. Tebogo said the first mistake they made was stopping the gym before Diamond League final.

He highlighted the other as not running many 100m races this season.