Sport Chat

Mqondisi Dube | Wednesday August 14, 2013 00:00

Amantle Montsho has been amazing over the years. Actually there is a widespread feeling that with the glorious moments she has given the nation, she should be immune to criticism. But Montsho will be the first to admit that she stole defeat from the jaws of victory on Monday night when simple athletics basics failed her at a crucial stage. She knows she should have been crowned the World Champion for the second successive time. (see Talking Point)

Finest momentGaborone United signed a P3.6million sponsorship with South African insurance company, Federal and Mutual yesterday. This is one of the biggest sponsorships for a local club and we can only say it's a step in the right direction and hopeful it opens floodgates for similar deals for other clubs.

Finest athleteAmantle Montsho grabbed silver at the World Championships on Monday, which is no mean feat. She has been the country's trusted sports ambassador over the years and has done an amazing job.

Disaster of the WeekMontsho told reporters in Moscow that she does not know how to dip her head at the finish line - instead she says if she had seen Christine Ohuruogu coming, she would have put out her chest!

Talking PointMontsho deserved GOLD no doubt about it. The nation, while celebrating the silver medal, is aware of how cruel the adage 'so near yet so far' is. Montsho wanted gold, and she deserved gold, silver sounds more like a consolation. Here is an athlete who has given her all to the country, a selfless patriot who has ensured the Botswana flag is flown even in the jungles of Africa. Gold was for Montsho and Christine Ohuruogu was supposed to be left to pick up the pieces with  a silver. After steaming ahead with about 60 metres remaining Montsho appeared nothing but a gold medal winner. After all she is the best in the 400 metres business at the moment.

The high expectations on her are largely expected, they are not misplaced or should not be interpreted as exerting pressure. By now, Montsho should be having an Olympics medal and two gold medals at the World Championships. This was achievable and the Mabudutsa born star knows it. Montsho will find it a hard pill to swallow when she realises how much dipping her head at the finish line cost her. It is the most basic thing which even amateur athletes do with ease. Sports Chat finds it difficult to digest Montsho's claim that she was not aware that Ohuruogu was hard on her heels. Did the track queen think she was running alone? For her information, she was not, Ohuruogu and other 'dangerous' 400 metre runners were lurking close by!

The stat49:41secs, Montsho's time in the final. Her best this season is 49.33 secs.

The quote'I always have a bad finish. I don't know how to dip in a race. I didn't see Christine when she came. If I saw her I could maybe have put my chest out and made it,' Amantle Montsho.