Praise for constituency athletics tourney
Koketso Kgoboge | Wednesday September 20, 2017 12:20
Kikwe said most of the athletes who reached the finals of the constituency national finals held at the Francistown Sports Complex over the weekend had been groomed through the Botswana Integrated Sport Association (BISA) and the Botswana Primary Schools Sport Association (BOPSSA) structures. He said the problem of ensuring continuity after the athletes complete their studies has been the Achilles’ heel for the athletics body.
“We have lost a lot of promising talent because athletes were not fortunate to continue with their studies and it has always been a problem for us to keep tabs on them after school,” Kikwe said.
The vice president said they have identified a number of individuals who have the potential to compete at the world stage with due care and proper training.
He said they took advantage and partnered with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Culture Development (MYSC) in the constituency athletics initiative to close the gap.
He said they have ensured the athletes compete in high standard platforms so that they can be properly measured. He said they have also provided officials to technically guide the officials from MYSC.
“This is a great initiative by the MYSC that we fully support. We have seen great times (recorded) here for athletes without proper training and mind you we are in the inaugural year of the competition. We anticipate great results from this programme going forward.”
Former commonwealth long jump silver medallist, Gable Garenamotse who is the competitions technical expert shared Kikwe’s sentiments. “In terms of times, there are great performances that can qualify for the top four of the BAA in varying categories,” he said. “Some of these athletes have been inactive for over two years and I believe with proper training we are going to have about four in the national team from this group.” Thabo Molapo (23) of Pitsane who clocked 10.77 in the 100 metres said he is glad for the lifeline as he had tried in vain to make a comeback after completing his studies at Goodhope Senior School. The runner said he has been inactive for three years.
“I started training at the beginning of the year when I heard about this competition. I always had a dream to become a professional athlete and compete internationally, but that dream was shattered after I completed school.
“This is an opportunity for me to prove myself and I will not rest. I am training at a good facility at Goodhope (Senior) thanks to the assistance of MYSC and my focus is to find a club that can take me further.” Caiphus Kopelang, the acting district coordinator at MYSC said their intention is to reach every pocket of the country and work with the clubs to unearth and develop talent.