Botswana could reap rich from athletics meet

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Thursday January 27, 2011 00:00

 

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) president, Moses Bantsi has said the IAAF has promised to help build an HPC if the country successfully hosts the championships. Botswana will host the event from May 6-9 this year. Bantsi told Mmegi Sport that his association and the IAAF has agreed 'in principle' concerning the HPC. 'Yes, that is true.

In fact, we have agreed (with IAAF) in principle that after successfully hosting the championships, we may acquire a High Performance Centre,' said Bantsi. Botswana has previously sent athletes to a HPC in Senegal. Presently, BAA is keen to send the women's 4x4 relay team that represented the country in last year's Commonwealth Games for further training at the HPC in Senegal.

BAA's intention is to ensure that the athletes link up with Senegal-based Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Amantle Montsho in a bid to prepare the team for future international competitions. BAA is convinced the team has so much potential and with more international exposure, it will enhance its performance. The relay team of Montsho, Kgalalelo Sefo, Lydia Mashila and Oarabile Babolai finished seventh at the Commonwealth Games. 'We saw potential in the team during the Africa Championships and Commonwealth Games and we believe if the athletes had been together for a longer period, they could have even done better. We want to send the whole team to Senegal so that they can train with Amantle. We want them (athletes) to be a unit,' Bantsi said.

He cited Montsho as a good example of how international exposure can develop local athletes. 'She (Montsho) went to Senegal and became a world beater, there is no doubt about that. We believe our athletes will benefit from that (going to Senegal) because all they do is training and competitions, which is quite important,' he added.  Already, Sefo is on the verge of joining Montsho in Senegal while the other athletes could move by March.

Bantsi believes the country's exploits in recent international competitions will pave new avenues for more local athletes. BAA is in the process of getting funds to send the team to Senegal. 'Before the end of February, we should be having something. We are currently sourcing funding to send the athletes to Senegal,' he said.