Bakwadi blunder rectified but damage done
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday September 1, 2017 14:03
A potentially deserving karateka, Oratile Caiphus was left out due to some achievements wrongfully attributed to Bakwadi.
Bakwadi’s profile was mixed up leading to some people questioning his eligibility for the sportsman of the year award. In the initial list, the BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng said the karateka had two gold medals from the World Championships, yet, in fact, he had a gold and bronze medal from the Australia Open Championships. Now the removal of the World Championships ‘medals’ from his profile, is likely to reduce his overall weight in the race. Caiphus has the same profile but was left out. Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) failed to ask Caiphus to submit his profile.
“BOKA never asked me to submit my profile rather China Metswi (BOKA sport development officer) requested me to submit my profile for team kumite since I was the senior team member.
I assumed that they did not consider me because of the BNSC criteria,” he said.
Caiphus said he was not aware of the BNSC points system used and he should have been the one submitted for the awards because he is the only athlete in the senior male who got two gold medals in Zone VI.
He argued that Zone VI was the only international championship which BOKA had competed in last year.
“I was hopeful of nomination, but unfortunately BOKA leadership had other ideas,” Caiphus said.
Reacting to the concern, BOKA president, Tshepho Bathai said Bakwadi was ranked in the World rankings while Caiphus was not.
He said that is an advantage for Bakwadi as BNSC took the factor into consideration.
Meanwhile, some commentators feel that the nominations left out deserving athletes. Nijel Amos has been nominated for sportsman of the year, but the 800m sensation was on and off the track in 2016 due to injuries.
Karabo Sibanda is seen as a more deserving nominee for the sportsman of the year award due to his exploits in 2016 where he reached the Olympic Games finals.
Christine Botlogetswe did not achieve much in 2016 to warrant nomination, instead Lydia Jele was slightly ahead.
For his part, Reikeletseng said the competition for awards was tough this year. He said it is unfortunate that most people do not understand the criteria used to select the nominees.
Complete list of nominees: Junior female sportsperson: Besa Masaite (chess), Tshegofatso Tsiang (tennis) and Galefele Moroko (athletics). Sports administrator: Dorothy Tlagae (judo) and Tshenolo Maruatona (chess). Non-citizens sports award: Estony Pridge (judo) and Zilwele Khumalo (rugby).
Sport code of the year: Botswana Cricket Association, Botswana Chess Federation and Botswana Athletics Association.
Umpire/referee: Edgar Serole (volleyball), Joshua Bondo (football and Gaone Poane (tennis).
Group code: BOTESSA and BOPSSA.
Sportsperson with disability (woman): Kedumetse John (Special Olympics), Nonofo Zigwa (Special Olympics) and Goitseone Ramontshonyane (Special Olympics).
Sportsperson with disability (man): Keatlaretse Mabote (PASSOBO) and Brightfield Shadi (Special Olympics).