Otsetswe explains Amos snub
Kabelo Boranabi | Thursday April 20, 2017 15:45
The 13-member team that left the country yesterday, consists of one of the best the country has ever produced including 400m world leading runner, Baboloki Thebe, 2016 Olympic games finalist, Karabo Sibanda and former world champion, Amantle Montsho.
However, the most notable absentee from the team is 2012 Olympic Games 800m silver medallist, Nijel Amos. Despite being one of the best runners, the Marobela-born star did not make the seven-man group set to compete in the men’s and mixed relay teams. Speaking to Mmegi Sport yesterday, the team’s coach Mogomotsi Otsetswe said they used a performance-based selection criteria and looked at the best times of this year.
“We selected the best times of this year. As BAA we have decided that from now on, athletes would only be selected on-form rather than on reputation. Amos has not competed this year, so there was no way he could have been selected. We do not want to set a trend where athletes would just relax knowing that they are the best. We want our athletes to push themselves to be the best,” he said.
Otsetswe further said Amos, who has been in Kenya for a short training stint, is currently working with his personal coach to get back to his best and they did not want to disturb his programme.
“We all know what he is capable of. We all know what he can do, but he has not been competing this year. He has agreed with his coach that he would start competing later. They are currently working on a target they have set together, so we did not want to disturb his programme,” he said.
The men’s 400m-relay team consists of Thebe, Sibanda, Onkabetse Nkobolo, Boitumelo Masilo, Pako Seribe and Isaac Makwala while the women’s team has Galefele Moroko, Loungo Matlhaku, Christine Botlogetswe, Goitseone Seleka, Lydia Jele and Montsho. Leamane Maotoanong, Montsho, Seribe and Moroko form the mixed relay team.
“If you look at Moroko and Seribe they have done well thus far. They have improved very well. Looking at Moroko’s times, she can even qualify for the individual 440m. Seribe on the other hand, has been out due to a niggling injury, but he has the talent,” Otsetswe showered praises on the two national team returnees.