Makwala, Montsho out of Africa Championships
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday July 24, 2018 17:00
The competition takes place in Asaba, Nigeria next month, with the Botswana team leaving on Friday.
National team coach, Mogomotsi Otsetswe said he received a call from Montsho informing him about her injury.
“She informed me that she had pulled a muscle during training in Europe. Taking into consideration her age, I decided that it is not a good idea to expect her to run in Asaba. That would only make the injury worse hence we decided to drop her from the team. It (calling her up) could also spell doom for her career,” he said.
Otsetswe said Makwala is suffering from a similar injury. He said they are not able to replace the two stars due to the time factor. Onkabetse Nkobolo has instead been drafted to run the individual 400m race, although initially, he had been earmarked for the relay race only.
“The team is not in good shape as Karabo Sibanda is also out due to injury,” he said.
Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) public relations officer, Ipolokeng Ramatshaba said the exclusion of Makwala and Montsho from the team traveling to Nigeria, automatically rules the two out of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Continental Cup, where they would have represented Africa. The Continental Cup takes place in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia on September 9.
The team:
Women: Loungo Matlhaku and Tsaone Sebele (100 and 200m), Christine Botlogetswe, Goitseone Seleka, Galefele Moroko, Matlhaku and Sebele (400m and 4x400m relay).
Men: Keene Motukisi and Karabo Mothibi (100 and 200m), Baloki Thebe, Onkabetse Nkobolo, Leaname Maotoanong and Leungo Scotch (400m and 4x400m relay)
Nijel Amos and Boitumelo Masilo (800m).