Kgaboetsile shines to put Rakops firmly on the map
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday September 21, 2018 13:30
Sprint star, Christine Botlogetswe is one of the well-known daughters of the village, which is near the Makgadikgadi Pans.
Rakops added a further in its cap when one of its own, Emmanuel Kgaboetsile won the Sportsperson of the Year award during the 38th Annual National Sports Awards held last Saturday. Although there was shock that an umpire and not an athlete had won the award, Kgaboetsile had already left his mark after becoming the first Motswana to handle the final of the World Badminton Championships.
Kgaboetsile said despite raised eyebrows, the award was well deserved. He emerged from the night with two awards, including that of Umpire/Referee of the Year gong.
He said he expected to bag the umpire’s award, but the Sportsperson’s achievement caught him by surprise. Kgaboetsile said when his name was called for the top award, he thought it was a mistake.
He said after receiving the award, he had to recollect himself and digest what had just happened. Kgaboetsile said that was when he remembered that under the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) awards policy, it was possible for umpires, coaches and administrators to scoop the Sportsperson of the Year award. “People around me are over the moon. Some even suggested that I should bring the two awards to the village during Independence Day holiday for them to celebrate with me and the village elders,” he said.
Kgaboetsile was born in Rakops 36 years ago and works for Debswana as an IT Administrator. He started playing badminton at junior secondary school and in 1999 while doing Form Five, he was the national champion for all senior schools. Kgaboetsile got a national team call up where he says he sustained a knee injury and never recovered. He then took up umpiring on the realisation that former players chose the coaching route.
“In 2006, I attended an umpire’s course in Gaborone. I attended another course in 2008 that was held in Mauritius to become an Africa Accredited Umpire,” he revealed.
Kgaboetsile said in 2011, at the All Africa Games held in Mozambique, he was assessed, passed and was recommended for Badminton World Federation (BWF).
“Before that, I was sent for practise at Canadian Open in Vancouver,” he added.
Kgaboetsile said there was a tough assessment in Japan, where he passed theory test and practical to become a BWF Accredited Umpire. He was then sent to London for the 2012 Olympics Games. After officiating at the Olympics, all doors for major tournaments opened.
Kgaboetsile went on to officiate at two Commonwealth Games, two World Championships, five World Junior Championships, four Super Series, two All Africa Games and six All Africa Senior Championships.
“Officiating at the Gold Coast was another milestone for me after the Glasgow 2014 Games. In badminton, about 30-40 umpires are invited to officiate, but only the best five are selected to officiate the finals. So in Gold Coast, I officiated the final between England and India and a lot of Batswana watched and for some, it was the first time to watch badminton on television,” Kgaboetsile said.