BNSC awards unfair � Makwala
Mqondisi Dube | Thursday May 7, 2015 14:32
Makwala, the country’s 100m, 200m and 400m holder, was a stand-out performer in 2014, shattering three sprint records, including a stunning one-day double.
He holds the distinction of being the only athlete to own all three sprint records in one calendar year.
He was crowned the 400m African champion and successfully steered the 400m x 4 relay team to continental glory.
His 2014 feat included a stunning sprint double when he won both the 200m and 400m within 90 minutes in Switzerland. In the process he broke the Africa 400m record and set a new local 200m mark, all achieved in 2014.
Despite what stood as by far his best year, Makwala found himself out in the cold when the BNSC nominees were released last week.
“All I can say is that the BNSC awards are unfair,” Makwala fumed this week.
Nijel Amos, a 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, was preferred ahead of Makwala in the selection criteria, which has been questioned by many.
Affiliates are expected to forward one name per category, which limits selection, critics argued.
The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) claims it forwarded Makwala’s name together with that of Amos.
Makwala would discover that he is not the only deserving athlete frozen out. Rising 400m star, Karabo Sibanda, who sparkled during the 2014 Africa Youth Games is nowhere near the nominees list, while his counterpart, Baboloki Thebe made the cut. The karate team made the list despite the code being afflicted by a plethora of administrative challenges, which saw international participation suffer.
Makwala, the country’s 100m, 200m and 400m holder, was a stand-out performer in 2014, shattering three sprint records, including a stunning one-day double.
He holds the distinction of being the only athlete to own all three sprint records in one calendar year.
He was crowned the 400m African champion and successfully steered the 400m x 4 relay team to continental glory.
His 2014 feat included a stunning sprint double when he won both the 200m and 400m within 90 minutes in Switzerland. In the process he broke the Africa 400m record and set a new local 200m mark, all achieved in 2014.
Despite what stood as by far his best year, Makwala found himself out in the cold when the BNSC nominees were released last week.
“All I can say is that the BNSC awards are unfair,” Makwala fumed this week.
Nijel Amos, a 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, was preferred ahead of Makwala in the selection criteria, which has been questioned by many.
Affiliates are expected to forward one name per category, which limits selection, critics argued.
The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) claims it forwarded Makwala’s name together with that of Amos.
Makwala would discover that he is not the only deserving athlete frozen out. Rising 400m star, Karabo Sibanda, who sparkled during the 2014 Africa Youth Games is nowhere near the nominees list, while his counterpart, Baboloki Thebe made the cut. The karate team made the list despite the code being afflicted by a plethora of administrative challenges, which saw international participation suffer.