BNOC announces AfricaYouth Games squad

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Thursday June 24, 2010 00:00

 

The team was announced in Gaborone on Tuesday. It is made up of 13 athletes from five sports codes. Eight officials will accompany the squad. Botswana has fielded participants in athletics, boxing, judo, swimming and tennis in the games to be held from July 13-18.

BNOC chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said during the announcement of the squad that the team will go into camp to prepare for the event. The camp training will be held a few days prior to departure because a majority of the athletes are students and it will be get them earlier because of academic commitments. The team has got an average age of 16. The youngest athlete is 15 and the oldest 17.

BNOC treasurer Letsholo Letsholo paid special tribute to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the national associations for striving hard to make sure the country is represented at the maiden games despite the limited resources.

He expressed optimism that the team will perform well and bring good results. 'I would like to thank the government for being supportive financially. We would like to have been given more than we were allocated, nevertheless we will continue pushing hard to bring the desired results,' he said. He said success of elite sports is not the responsibility of the government only and called on the private sector to support sports through sponsorships.

The games are the continent's dress rehearsals for the World Youth Olympic Games, which will be held in Singapore in August. More than 1200 athletes from 53 countries are expected to participate in Morocco competition.

BNOC secretary general Moses Moruisi will lead the Botswana team as chef de mission, assisted by BNOC board member, Estony Hattingh.

The Botswana contingent has: Mmilili Dube, Leungo Matlhaku, Nigel Amos, Rampa Mosweu (official), Boxing: Oratile Kgalaeng, Healer Modiradilo (official), Judo: Tommy Majeremane, Neo Kapeko, Tiroyaone Kapeko, Thebe Loabile (official), Swimming: Imsirovic Bonita, Todd Jeffrey Adrian, Lee John Daniel, Van Der Colff Nicole Deandra, Sally Leppan (official), La Grange Allison (official), Tennis: Lame Botshoma, Phatsimo Ruele, Boikobo Gaolebalwe (official).