Tiango makes strides in athletics
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday March 17, 2017 16:01
Tiango stamped her authority last weekend to make sure that her prowess is felt across the breath and length of this country when she won the Gaborone half marathon (21.1km).
Tiango has had a good start this year winning the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) cross country (10km) and Heritage marathon (10km) among others.
Being the last born in a family of seven, Tiango comes across as a shy individual, with a few words but when on the track, she becomes a bullet.
The 26-year-old Tiango started taking part in athletics when she was still a pupil at Goshwe Primary School. She continued with her love of chasing the wind at a local junior secondary education in the same village.
She says her talent was noticed at a tender age by her primary school teacher who encouraged her to continue doing what she loves best.
“When I arrived at junior secondary school, I met another teacher who also felt I had talent and a bright future in athletics. My class teacher also encouraged me. After finishing my junior certificate, I came to Gaborone to pursue my dream,” she says with a smile.
Tiango said upon arrival in the city, she learnt about a long distance runner, Raobina Ramoseka. She struggles to remember the year when she started working with the veteran runner. Despite that, Ramoseka took her under his wing until she moved on to join BDF Athletics Club where she was coached by Shepherd Kenatshele, who is her current coach.
Due to her impressive performance, Tiango was roped into the Diacore Gaborone marathon running programme when it was introduced last year. She said the programme has made her life easy because everything is being taken care of from race registrations, feeding, accommodation and running attire.
She competed in the Soweto marathon where she ran a good time finishing in position four. She explained that she went to the marathon without much expectation because she expected tough competition.
In 2016, she finished all the races in position two, starting with PPC marathon, Lucara Independence marathon and the Botswana Life Classic Run.
Tiango said she is working hard in preparing for the 2017 Diacore Gaborone marathon.
“The marathon is used as a qualifier for international races and I am going to fight with everything I have to do well at the race. I do not want to disappoint my sponsors,” she said.
When asked about the absence of Onneile Dintwe on the track, she said the long distance runner is a motivation and she also pushes her to do better times. Tiango said her aim is to see herself in the international stage representing the country. She is excited to be going to the upcoming Africa cross-country championship in Uganda.
Tiango said doing a good time is all she wants and getting a better position will be a bonus. She said her coach has come up with new training programmes that are currently assisting her a lot in dominating the local running sphere. For his part, Diacore Gaborone marathon running programme public relations officer, Thabo Makgatho beams with confidence when he talks about Tiango.
“Mema is a very determined runner. She generally has a quiet, reserved demeanour but when she gets on the track she is transformed into a far more single minded target oriented runner,” he said.
Makgatho said when one is watching her, one can get a sense that she is not paying specific attention to anything else but her own stride. He pointed out that athletes are competitive by nature and where most approach their discipline with blood thirsty desire to destroy their opponents, Mema seems to care more about doing better than everyone else and not necessarily about seeing everyone else doing worse than her.
“This humility shines through victory as she is extremely gracious. She is not one for over the ostentatious celebrations nor for carrying herself in a boastful way,” Makgatho said.
He said the athlete simply accepts her triumph with a smile and generally quietly and internally self congratulates herself on a hard fought win and that is really the extent of her joy.
FACT FILE
Full names: Mema Tiango
Date of birth: 20/10/1991
Place of birth: Tutume
Sport: Athletics
Club: BDF athletics club
Favourite food: Rice and chicken