Masire-Mwamba urges participants to keep clean image
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday August 31, 2015 14:59
She said that not only does Botswana advocate for clean games, but it is also against the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport. Masire-Mwamba said it is the responsibility of the country to do it in a manner that reflects what Botswana is really about. She added that the games are a platform to show the diversity of the Commonwealth nations as the athletes participating will share the cultural backgrounds of the nations. She urged athletes to hoist the national flag high as the games give them a platform for the youth to show their leadership skills. The games will help young athletes enhance their leadership skills.
Masire-Mwamba who also a contender for the Commonwealth secretary general position has likened her candidacy to the team’s quest for success.
“The similarity for you (team) and I is that we are both competing in a Commonwealth platform, in trying to raise the national flag high. As we can recall Botswana tasted its first international medal at these games and this shows that as a country we can compete on an international stage,” she said. Botswana has sent a strong team to the fifth Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Samoa from September 5 to 12. The team includes the Africa Youth Championship gold medalist, Mohammed Otukile who will compete in the 49kg and 400-metre Africa Youth Championship gold medalist, Karabo Sibanda. The duo carries the nation’s title hopes as they have been doing well in the recent competitions.
Davis Van Der Cloff who recently scooped a bronze medal at the South African Level Three championships will be the only swimmer in the team. He scooped two medals at the Zone 6 Under-20 Games in Zimbabwe last year.
Other team members include: Thabiso Sekgopi (200m and 100m races), Kabo Mphali (long jump), Aobakwe Nkobela (high jump), Aobakwe Malau (200m and 100m), Thandi Uerimuna (800m), Kgalalelo Tlalanyane (100m hurdles), Refilwe Muranji (200m and 100m), and Kutlwano Ogaketse (49kg boxing).