Sebeles star continues to shine

66870,Naledi Lemogang,, | Friday May 5, 2017 00:00

Ditiro Sebele recently broke the International University Sports Federation (FISU) standard record of 21:20 after clocking 21:06 in men’s 200m during the BOTESSA National Champions last month. Sebele continued with his good performance and recorded 10:64 in 100m at the same event.

The 23-year-old was one of the lucky BOTESSA athletes who got an opportunity to participate in the GIM over the weekend finishing on position two with a time of 21:37 in the men’s 200m.

Sebele, born in Topisi but now residing in Gaborone because of school commitments, told Mmegi Sport yesterday that he started athletics in 2009 at junior school.

He is now a student at New Era University.

“Throughout my school days I was running for fun and never had any goals in athletics. When I was about to finish my form five, my Seepapitso physical education teacher trained me hard to go for the junior selections aimed for the African Junior Championships,” Sebele explained.

He said since then he started taking athletics seriously and met national team coach, Chilume Ntshwarang who groomed him for three years.

In 2011, he participated in the Botswana Athletics Games where he got two gold and two silver medals.

Sebele said the following year he represented the country in Namibia at the Southern Junior Championships where he did well. Sebele said just like any other sport, venturing into athletics has some challenges such as injuries.

In 2013 he suffered a second degree tear on his left hamstring, which forced him out of action for the whole year. After recovering, he met his current coach Justice Dipeba who trained him well.

They had a great season and he was then selected to represent the country at the World University games.

“I got a professional medical attention on my injury and I recovered. In 2016, I won my first tertiary championships where I won three gold medals in 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay,” Sebele said. He later represented the country in Zimbabwe during CUCSA games where he scooped three silver medals in 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. He said he is grateful and thankful for the support he gets from his family, friends and everyone who believe in him.

The record breaker is currently preparing to represent the country in Taipei after winning two gold medals for 100m and 200m.

“After breaking the FISU standard record I told myself that the best is yet to come because my determination and hard work. It is always a motivation to my life whenever I get such unforgettable moments,” Sebele said.

His goal is to represent Botswana at the upcoming Olympics and running fast times globally.