Amantle Montsho is still a star!

Keletso Thobega | Wednesday September 10, 2014 12:32

The question on most people’s lips was: Did she knowingly consume something with illegal substances or not? Within several hours she went from being a celebrated star to a “disgrace”. I however trust that like a phoenix, she will rise from the ashes. Over the years she has displayed admirable resilience and perseverance.  She had initiative and at a time where being a “proper” young woman in Botswana was getting married, working a “normal” job, breeding and being sucked into routine existence to fulfill societal expectation, she broke the mould and pursued her own dreams.

 She hasn’t let her talents go to waste and has overcome many challenges to be where she is. Her image may be tarnished but people know her talent, and no amount of negative comments can change that truth. Several years ago Montsho was struggling on the tracks and often came number one… at the back. She however refused to throw in the towel and instead trained harder.  Soon things changed and she became an 800m star. When she won the first time, she cried like a baby. It was a victory cry. Even the naysayers who discouraged her, suddenly wanted to be associated with her. Montsho has maintained her position as a key runner and has proved her detractors wrong.

 It’s just unfortunate that some people think they own her. The poor woman has been abused by some Batswana. It’s no wonder that when news of the doping results broke she closed her social network accounts. She probably knew what was coming her way. This is a person who some people want to have access to, but when given that privilege, abuse it. Montsho has been called ugly, been accused of lesbianism and drunkenness. She has been vilified for sharing opinions on her social network pages, and dealt endless criticism. I suspect it’s all mere jealousy. Some Batswana are sad, miserable, bitter low-achievers, who derive joy from seeing others in a bad state. I guess this young woman’s success has been too much for some people whose life revolves around routine existence, to fathom. Her success is too much for people who have not realised their own dreams. These are the same people who are quick to insult, degrade others. It’s probably the same people who say Montsho must retire and come back home. Ba batla le ene a tla go kgaela mo Botswana.

At a time when they should be supporting someone who was clearly going through hell, some in the media and sports enclave went on the rampage assassinating her character. Montsho has been accused of being rude and dismissive. I don’t blame her.  Put yourself in her position… If you were publicly humiliated, would you be smiley, smiley? Some Batswana don’t approach her with love but with the intention to mock and ridicule her. Human beings can be mean, and our people take the cup of emotionally, psychologically and verbally abusing their own, and finding it to be funny, forgetting that this is an individual with feelings. We have proved to be an ungrateful nation, with sick negative spirited people in our midst. We have let down one of our own disregarding how she flew our flag high. Added to that, she’s a woman and since Botswana is such a sexist nation, women are often easy targets of abuse. It’s a multiple blow. I however trust that she doesn’t take it all personal because most of her detractors don’t really know her. All they carry in their minds is assumption, hearsay and impressions. I guess that’s the downside of being thrust in the public space; you are put on a pedestal, judged, criticised and become a source of entertainment and gossip fodder for even people who have nothing much going in their lives.

On the flipside, I have seen that some Batswana are positive about Montsho and have wished her well with encouraging words.  We don’t know what’s going to happen in future, but the least we can do is show Montsho support and allow her to live in peace because she has been through a lot. Funny that some people say she must apologise to the nation but some people have dipped in the coffers and killed children they “mistook” for dogs, but were never asked to apologise. nor even held accountable.  Amantle Montsho is still a star.