National team athletes, coach test positive
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday June 11, 2021 13:28
The trio, Boitumelo Masilo, Ditiro Nzamani, Thomphang Basele, and coach Kebonyemodisa Dose Mosimanegape tested positive on Tuesday. Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) general manager, Pinkie Wilson said on Monday, Mosimanegape was not feeling well and he was advised to seek medical attention.
“When he was tested, the results were positive. That is when the whole team was tested on Tuesday and the coach, Masilo, Basele and Nzamani also brought positive results,” Wilson said. She said BAA had to consult relevant stakeholders after the positive results.
She said they were advised to proceed with the track and field series slated for the National Stadium tomorrow.
Wilson said Masilo and Nzamani were not going to compete tomorrow due to injuries.
She said Nzamani’s injury is torn muscles grade three.
A grade three-calf strain is a complete rupture of the muscle. She said the athlete was expected to travel to South Africa yesterday to seek medical attention but that has not been possible due to the COVID-19 positive test.
“Preparations are going well and we had invited other countries to send their athletes. So far, we have received confirmation from Zambia. Isaac Makwala would not be present at the event due to his commitments in Europe,” she said.
Zambian sprinter Sydney Siame would make a return to the National Stadium. He has become a regular at the venue after competing in the 2019 Gaborone International Meet (GIM) where he dominated the 200m race, scooping gold in 20.71secs. It would have been a race to watch if Makwala was present because the duo has a bone to chew.
During the GIM 2018, Makwala beat Siame to the finish line in 20.10secs while the latter finished second with 20.26secs setting the national record for Zambia. The 100m men’s race would be interesting with the return of Thuso Zabrone Machara. However, it would not be easy for Machara as there is a fast battalion that includes the likes of Thabiso Sekgopi and Karabo Mothibi.