Rousing welcome planned for Amos

Spira Tlhankane | Tuesday August 4, 2015 09:36

 

Amos will receive a warm welcome courtesy of the Minister of Sport, Youth and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng.

“As indicated last week, I have arranged a heroes’ welcome for Nigel Amos and Isaac Makwala, all plans are finally in place.  “Makwala is still in Germany and I have directed that his training should not be disturbed,” Olopeng said in a statement.  The minister also asked everyone to unite in recognising the shining star.

Welcome committee spokesperson, Dikarabo Ramadubu told Mmegi Sport that everyone would meet at the National Stadium at 10am.

“From the National stadium, a motorcade led by the minister would head off to the SSKI Airport to welcome Amos,” he said.  Ramadubu indicated that Amos would arrive in Botswana at 11am and after the warm welcome the motorcade would head back to the national stadium.

“The public would be given a chance to interact with the champion and the minister will also give a speech to welcome Amos,” he said.

He said the media would get a chance to interview the athlete before he heads to South Africa to prepare for the World Championships later this month and the All Africa Games in September.

Ramadubu said Africa 400m record-holder, Makwala would not be part of the ceremony. 

“Makwala’s coach asked that he should remain in Germany to intensify the preparations ahead of the World Championships,” he said.

He, however, did not refute nor confirm that Amos might be given a reward from the minister. Amos will be back in the country after a recent string of wonderful performances in the Diamond league.

Just last week, he re-wrote the historic moment in 2012 where he became the first Motswana to win an Olympic medal. The nation’s welcome today would be a motivation ahead of the Beijing World Championships in three weeks.

He would face Rudisha again in a big stage and the world would be watching as the two rivals attempt to stage another great 800m race in history.

Amos’ greatness has however attracted a few enemies in the track and his Beijing victory will not be assured.

He would face Rudisha’s countryman Mohammed Aman who has already got the best of Amos in previous encounters. Bosnia and Herzegovina wunderkind Amel Tuka who shocked Amos in Monaco two weeks back, will also leave a room for surprise.