About the Botswana Commonwealth Games team
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday March 30, 2018 12:28
The team has been asked to bring home eight medals, which will be a record for any local team at the Commonwealth Games. Botswana is represented in athletics, swimming, boxing, lawn bowls and weightlifting. The majority of the team members will make their debut at the games. Botswana last won a Commonwealth Games medal in 2014 after golden boy, Nijel Amos was triumphant in the 800m final. Staff Writer, CALISTUS KOLANTSHO profiles the team
Isaac Makwala (Athletics)
D.0.B: September 24, 1985
Discipline: 400m
Honours: 100m National Champion, 200m National Champion and 400m
National Champion, one time in top 8 at Olympics Games, two times in top 8 at World Championships, one-time All Africa Games winner, 3-time African Champion, one-time World (continental) cup winner, one-time African Championships silver medallist, one-time IAAF World Relays silver medalist and two-time Diamond League Meeting winner
Christine Botlogetswe (Athletics)
D.O.B: October 1, 1995
Discipline: 200m, 400m
Honours: 2016 BAA National Championships 100m and 200m champion, 2015 BAA National Championships 100m and 200m champion and 2014 BAA Nationals 100m and 200m champion, one time in top 8 at World Championships, one-time All Africa Games winner, one-time African Championships bronze medallist and two times in top 8 at Africa Championships
Loungo Matlhaku (Athletics)
D.O.B: March 24, 1995
Discipline: 100m, 200m
Honours: 2017 BAA National Champion (100m and 200m), 2016 BAA National Champion (100m and 200m), 2015 BAA National Champion (100m and 200m) and 2014 BAA National Champion, one-time African Championships bronze medallist, one-time African Under-20 Championships silver and bronze medallist, three times in top 8 at African Championships and one-time B-finalist IAAF World relays (2015)
Pako Seribe (Athletics)
D.O.B: April 7, 1991
Discipline: 400m
Honours: One-time African Champion, one-time African Championships silver medallist, one-time African junior champion, one-time African U20 Championships bronze medallist, two times in top 8 at World U20
Championships, two times in top 8 at All Africa Games and one time in top 8 at African Championships
Leaname Maotoanong (Athletics)
D.O.B: May 7, 1991
Discipline: 400m
Honours: 100m, 200m and 400m champion, Universiade silver medalist, one time in top 8 at Olympics, two times in top 8 at World Championships, one-time All Africa Games silver medalist, two-time African Champion and one time in top 8 at IAAF World relays
Goitseone Seleka (Athletics)
D.O.B: August 10, 1988
Discipline: 400m
Honours: 400m BAA Nationals silver medalist 2012, 2013,
2014, 2016, 2010, four-time 400m finalist Commonwealth Games
(New Delhi, India), four-time 400m finalist at Africa Senior Championship (South Africa), World Relays Bahamas, Final B, Penn Relays
Onkabetse Nkobolo (Athletics)
D.O.B: July 22, 1993
Discipline: 400m
Honours: One time in top 8 at Olympics, one-time African Champion and one-time IAAF World Relays silver medallist.
Karabo Sibanda (Athletics)
D.O.B: July 2, 1998
Discipline: (400m)
Honours: One time in top 8 at Olympics, one-time African Champion, one-time IAAF World
Relays silver medallist, one-time Youth Olympic Games silver medallist and one-time World Junior Championships bronze medalist
Baboloki Thebe (Athletics)
D.O.B: March 18, 1997
Discipline: 200m, 400m
Honours: One time in top 8 at Olympics, one-time IAAF World relays silver medallist, two-time Diamond league winner and one-time Youth Olympics Games silver medalist
Galefele Moroko (Athletics)
D.O.B: April 16, 1997
Discipline: 200m, 400m
Honours: One time in top 8 at World Championships, one-time All Africa Games winner and one time in top 8 Africa Championships
Karabo Mothibi (Athletics)
D.O.B: January 15, 1996
Discipline: 100m, 200m
Honours: BAA Nationals champion 100m and 200m (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017), 2013 World Youth Championships (100m), World Junior Championships (200m) and 2015 African Junior Championships (4x100m relay)
Nijel Amos (Athletics)
D.O.B: March 15, 1994
Discipline: 800m
Honours: Commonwealth Games Champion (2014), two-time African Champion, three-time Diamond League Champion, World Junior record holder and third fastest of all-time, 2012 Olympic Games silver medallist
Amantle Montsho (Athletics)
D.O.B: July 4, 1983
Discipline: 400m
Honours: World Champion Daegu 2011, one-time World Championships silver medallist, one-time Commonwealth Games winner, two times in Top 8 at Olympics, two times in World
Championships top 8, three-time Diamond League trophy winner
Goabaone Mosheleketi (Athletics)
D.O.B: November 2, 1993
Discipline: Triple Jump
Honours: 2018 Four Invitations winner, 2017 NAIA triple jump champion, 2017 NAIA Championship MVP, 2016 Africa Championship qualifier and 2012 World Junior qualifier
Keamogetse Kenosi (Boxing)
D.O.B: January 17, 1997
Discipline: 57kg
Honours: Zone 4 Championships (gold), Zone 4 Championships (silver and best bout), 2015-2016 Female Boxer of the Year
Mahommed Otukile Rajab (Boxing)
D.O.B: June 28, 1997)
Discipline: 52kg
Honours: 2018 Zone 4 Championships (gold), 2017 Africa Championships (silver), 2015 Commonwealth (bronze) and 2014 AUSC Games and Africa Youth Games
Lethabo Modukanele (Boxing)
D.O.B: August 25, 1996
Discipline: 48kg
Honours: 2016 BoBA National Championships (gold), Record: 13-12-1
Aratwa Kasemang (Boxing)
D.O.B: February 13, 1995
Discipline: 60kg
Honours: 2016 National Boxing Championships (bronze), 2017 BOBA
National Championships (gold), 2017 Africa Boxing Championships
(bronze) and 2018 Zone 4 Championships (silver)
Kabo Gaboutloeloe (Lawn Bowls)
D.O.B: October 1, 1973
Discipline: Singles, pairs, triples and fours
Honours: 2012 BBA Nationals Men’s Fours (gold), 2013 BBA Nationals
Men’s Pairs (gold), BAA League overall (silver medalist), Masters
(gold) and Nationals Men’s Triples, 2013 Invitation Men’s Triples (gold), 2016 AST Zimbabwe Men’s Triples (bronze), 2017 Peter Richards (silver) and AST South Africa Triples and Tours (bronze and gold)
Nelly Senna (Lawn Bowls)
D.O.B: June 12, 1971
Discipline: Singles and pairs
Honours: Women’s pairs and singles winner 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, Peter Richards tournament Pairs (gold and bronze), Zimbabwe Nationals Women Fours (silver and gold)
Marea Modutlwa (Lawn Bowls)
D.O.B: April 5, 1976
Discipline: Singles and Pairs
Honours: 2016 and 2017 Francistown Major Fours (gold), Gaborone Open (gold) and National Trips (silver), 2017 Peter Richards Pairs (bronze) and AST Pairs (silver)
Edwin Nyoka (Lawn Bowls)
D.O.B: June 2, 1972
Discipline: Singles, pairs, triples and fours
Honours: National League Champion 2015, 2016 BBA National Championships Men’s Fours (gold), 2017 Men’s trips (gold), 2017 AST Men’s Fours winner
Kitso Robert (Lawn Bowls)
D.O.B: December 22, 1967
Discipline: Singles, pairs, triples and fours
Honours: Two AST gold medals, two AST silver medals, bronze medal-Tiger Bowls-Hong Kong
John Gaborutwe (Lawn Bowls)
D.O.B: December 22, 1967
Discipline: Fours and pairs
Honours: 2005, 2009, 2014 and 2015 National Champion, 2017 AST Men’s Trips (bronze)
Dickson Senna (Lawn Bowls)
D.O.B: October 20, 1969
Discipline: Singles, pairs, triples and fours
Honours: 2014, 2015 and 2016 Fours National Champion, 2016 AST (bronze) and Trips Invitation (silver)
Kgotla Kgaswane (Weightlifting)
D.O.B: July 7, 2000
Discipline: 56kg
Honours: Ranked number two in Botswana, Africa (2)
Naomi Ruele (Swimming)
D.O.B: January 13, 1997
Discipline: 50m, 100m, 200m backstroke and 200m freestyle
Honours: 2016 Qualified for NCAA Division Champion, Pardue
Invitational-50 yards freestyle 22.73 (School record), Conference
USA-50 yards freestyle-22.23 (Conference record) and 2014 South
African Senior Championships - Durban 50m backstroke-30.13, Arena Pro Series, Orlando 50m Freestyle-26.07 (Rio B Time) and Barcelona 100m freestyle-59.44, 100m backstroke 1.04.92, 2015 Mauritius
Nationals-50m freestyle-27.06 and FINA World Championships-50m
backstroke-29.36