Makwala ready to kick-on after stellar year
Mqondisi Dube | Friday September 26, 2014 14:10
At the age 29, Isaac Makwala can be considered a late bloomer. But the wait has been worth it. Makwala made his professional debut in 2006, but it was only eight years later that he made the athletics world sit and take notice.
His journey to stardom began at Mpani Primary School in Tutume in 1995. His choices were tangled, with football also in the mix. The football, athletics puzzle was unresolved as he went through Tutume Junior Secondary School.
It was only when he enrolled at the Nswazi Brigade in 2006 that he identified his strength. Inspired by Zibani Molopo, an athletics coach at the brigade, Makwala soon discovered his raw sprint talent.
“Molopo is the one who encouraged me to take up athletics and I joined the Francistown Athletics Club in 2006,” Makwala says.
That year he competed in the National Championships and came third in the 400m sprint, which earned him a spot in the national team.
It was a precursor of some fine runs to come. His first race with the national team was the African Championships held in Mauritius in 2006, but he was an unused reserve.
He recorded his personal best in South Africa in 2007 when he clocked 46:42secs and received a scholarship to train at the High Performance Centre in Senegal.
He was in Senegal up to 2010 although the stay did not yield the same overwhelming success sprint queen Amantle Montsho has enjoyed.
Makwala’s notable achievement during his three-year stay in Dakar was a silver medal at the Africa Championships held in Ethiopia. Injuries then threatened to halt his progress after he returned home in 2010.
He was given a lifeline when he won a scholarship that took him to Jamaica between 2011 and 2012. It was in the Caribbean that his career flourished and he regrets spending more time in West Africa.
“It was while I was in Jamaica that I won my first African 400m title during the African Championships in Benin (2012). Jamaica was good, if only I had spent more time there,” he says.
When he returned home in 2013, Makwala was to unite with Justice Dipeba as his new coach.
“It was the first time working together. I broke the 200m record with a time of 20:21secs in 2013 and this year we have worked hard. It has been the best of my career,” Makwala says.
Now he is ready to kick-on as his career reaches the twilight. He has set himself a medal target at the tough World Championships next year and the Rio Olympics a year later.
On why he reached peak late into his career, Makwala believes athletes bloom at different times.
“To reach peak form differs from one athlete to the other, look at (Nijel) Amos he hit form at a young age. I think my case is the same as Amantle’s,” Makwala observes.
If he does well at the World Championships and the 2016 Olympics Makwala does not see himself long in the game. But he is eager to continue “as long as my legs carry me.”
He says one can make a living through athletics, with races paying up to US$30,000 (approx. P260,000) for first position.
He was part of the Botswana team, which took part in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July.
After a blistering start in the heats and when all appeared done and dusted, Makwala faltered badly in the semi final. He was leading and with a final berth in sight Makwala crumbled in the last 20metres.
“It is a normal thing it happens to any athlete. Again the weather, you find that athletes from Europe were doing well because they are used to the climate,” Makwala says of the shattering moment.
Despite that setback, 2014 has been a stellar year for Makwala who shattered the 400 and 200m records. This year’s feat includes a stunning sprint double when he won both the 200 and 400m within 90 minutes in Switzerland. In the process he broke the Africa 400m record and set a new local 200m mark.
Makwala is the last born in a family of six. His father, who has two wives, was initially opposed to his children focusing on sports instead encouraging them to prioritise education.
Away from the track, Makwala likes hanging with his friends and is a staunch supporter of South Africa glamour club Kaizer Chiefs while in England, Manchester United is his favourite.
In the be MOBILE Premier League he backs army side BDF XI.
He is still single but has a daughter and he will only consider marriage after he retires from athletics as he feels the schedule is too demanding. He has managed to stay away from the wrong pages of the press as he leads a clean life.
“I do not drink and I do not go clubbing,” he says about his secret of staying grounded.
About his relationship with Amos he says the two are close and always share a room when in camp. He is close to Montsho too and together with Amos learnt the former 400m women’s champion support after she tested positive for a banned substance. His blistering pace has ensured Makwala joins a prominent list of gallant Tutume sons who include Kabelo Dambe, the Zebras and Platinum Stars goalkeeper and colourful soccer referee, Joshua Bondo.
MAKWALA FACT FILE
Name: Isaac Makwala
Place of birth: Tutume
Date of birth: 24. 09. 1985
Club: Francistown Athletics Club
Records: 400m- 44:01 African record
200m- 19:96 National
100m- 10:20 National