BNOC denies neglecting Thebe
Calistus Kolantsho | Thursday March 16, 2017 15:07
Serufho was reacting to a complaint raised by Thebe in an interview with Mmegi Sport. Thebe had said the BNOC was not assisting him with his injury and related costs.
However, Serufho in an interview yesterday insisted BNOC is taking good care of the athlete. He said upon Thebe’s arrival from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, BNOC facilitated his trip to Italy for rehabilitation together with Nijel Amos. He said when the athlete returned from Italy, results showed that the injury had healed.
“We did not leave it there, we made arrangements with a physiotherapist, Clement Gaothuse who was part of the team in Rio, to make sure that he worked with Thebe, to assist and monitor him. There was a trip to Jwaneng where he (Gaothuse) is based to start the process. He has been consulting him from September until January. Gaothuse confirmed in the report that he wrote that Thebe was fit but he would continue monitoring him,” he said.
Serufho said Thebe is aware of a full time physiotherapist at the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) who is available to all athletes. He said Thebe and his coach, Mogomotsi Otsetswe approached BNOC claiming support for the athlete was insufficient.
Serufho said during the Sports Science Symposium held at the University of Botswana recently, one of the expert who was invited, had an opportunity to assess Thebe’s injury.
Serufho further refuted claims the BNOC refused to refund Otsetswe who had paid for Thebe’s medical bills at a private practice. He maintained that they do not owe Otsetswe. “We only hear about the arrangement from you (media),” he said.
Serufho said if the athlete or the coach are not happy with the assistance from his office, there are steps to be followed.
He said they will take Thebe for further medical analysis, although the athlete had not informed BNOC of a flare up in the injury.
He said they were happy when they saw him clocking this year’s world leading time of 44:89 in Francistown and they thought he was in good shape.
“We will set up a meeting with Thebe and find out his problems. We want the best for the athlete,” Serufho said.
For his part, Otsetswe said he could not stand aside and watch while his athlete was suffering. He said to him, Thebe is more of a child hence the extra mile he goes to assist him.