Otsetswe Happy With Commonwealth Preparations

Chakalisa Dube | Monday January 29, 2018 07:39

Otsetswe expressed his confidence after the Botswana Athletics Association’s (BAA) Super Night Series that was held at the Francistown Sports Complex on Saturday, where over 70 athletes participated. The athletes were drawn form 17 clubs and schools as well as vocational institutions around the country.

It was also envisaged that more athletes would use the race to secure qualification for the All Africa Youth Games and the Youth Olympics amongst others. However, none of the Saturday participants ran qualifying times.

Apart from the dominance of a few seasoned athletes, there were also no major highlights at the series as majority of those who participated were inexperienced.

“Although the main purpose of the event was to enable more athletes to qualify for the upcoming regional and international competitions, the other goal for us was to give some of the athletes who have already qualified for the Commonwealth games an opportunity to gain more fitness,” he said.

He further noted that all the athletes who are destined for the commonwealth games “scored their season’s best today. I am confident that by February (athletes) will be in a very good shape and they will start on working on building momentum for the April games. Their fitness looks very promising. We are on the right track”.

The likes of Christina Batlogetswe, Baboloki Thebe, Leaname Maotoanong, Pako Seribe, Boitumelo Masilo, Leungo Matlhaku and Galefele Moroko who are destined for Sydney participated at the weekend event. The athletes who will be heading to the Commonwealth Games will participate in races ranging from 100 to 400 metres as well as a 4×400 m relay, both men and women teams.

Seasoned campaigners Nijel Amos, Karabo Sibanda, Amamtle Montsho and Isaac Makwala who are amongst those who have qualified for the Games were not present on Saturday. Some of them have been preparing for the games abroad.