Botswana�s stars in the Youth Games
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday May 20, 2014 16:36
Botswana’s stars in the Youth Games
With 197 athletes expected to represent Botswana at the Second Gaborone Africa Youth Games,
Mmegi Sport Staff Writers, MOSAH MOKGANEDI & CALISTUS KOLANTSHO profile potential stars. Athlete name: Innocent Tidimane
Sport: Tennis
Place of birth: Selebi-Phikwe
Date of birth: November 26, 1997
Plays: Right handed
Tidimane is based at Elite Training Centre, Casablanca, Morocco. He started playing tennis at Selebi-Phikwe club when he was in primary school. Tidimane was first based at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) High Performance Centre in Pretoria in 2010. He got the Pretoria scholarship after impressing ITF scouts when he represented Botswana during the Under-12 tournament in South Africa in 2009. Tidimane was a nominee for the 2014 Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) Junior Sports Person of the Year.
Name: Galefele Moroko
Sport: Athletics
Date of birth: 16-04-1997
Place of birth: Maun
Age: 17
Moroko rose to prominence last year with a string of achievements on track. The 400m runner is oozing with confidence ahead of the Games. She said with the preparations that they went through, she is confident that she will make the country proud. She has competed at bigger stages before and therefore does not expect a tough time during the Youth Games.
Achievements
* Won gold at the COSSASA Games (2013)
* Won gold at the International SchoolsWorld Championships, Czech Republic (2013)
* Won bronze at the First Africa Youth Championships in Athletics (2013)
* Named the most valuable performer at the International Schools World Championships in Czech Republic
Name: Naomi Ruele
Sport: Swimming
Date of Birth: 13-01-1997
Place of Birth: Gaborone
Age: 17
Style(s): Backstroke
Born to Sibongile Ruele, Naomi started swimming at the age of seven at Phakalane Primary School. She has developed tremendously in the sport and won many accolades. The Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) award winner, bagged four gold t at the Africa Swimming Confederation competition in 2013.
Other achievements:
* Qualified for the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics
* Gold medalist at the Level III Championships in Durban.
* Semi finalist at the South Africa National Aquatic competitions.
Name: Thabang Setshego
Sport: Karate (55kg)
Date of birth: 25-04-1997
Place of birth: Francistown
The soft speaking Setshego expects to grab gold at the Youth Games.
Achievements:
* Zone VI champion in 55kg
* Won gold in the World Kofukan Cup
* Won gold in the South Africa Open (2014) in individual kata
Name: Baboloki Thebe
Sport: Athletics
Date of Birth: 18-03-1997
Place of Birth: Ramonaka
Age: 17
A talented young athlete, Thebe says his main target is to improve his time. The 100m and 200m sprinter wants to run 10:55secs and 21:33secs respectively in the races. His best time is 10:60secs in 100m and 21:42secs in the 200m.
Achievements:
* Bronze at the BISA National Championships (2013)
* Silver medalist (relay team) BISA National Championships
* Southern junior champion (2014)
* Bronze medalist at the Southern Junior Championships (2014)
* Won two gold medals at the COSSASA Games (2014)
* He was part of the relay team that won gold at the COSSASA Games.
Athlete name: Leroy Pearmain
Sport: Golf
Place of birth: Selebi-Phikwe
Date of birth: May 14, 1996
Pearmain started playing golf at the age of eight at the Selebi-Phikwe Golf Club in 2004. He has represented Botswana in junior and senior competitions on numerous occasions. He has bagged several titles locally and is a safe bet for a medal at the Games.