The number could have risen to 15, but Etsha CJSS sprinter Zachariah Kamberuka, who last weekend clocked 46.8 seconds in the 400m in Namibia, will not make the trip, says BAA senior development officer Bobby Gaseitsiwe. This is because the BAA wants the youngster to catch up on his schoolwork. Gaseitsiwe told Mmegi Sport that the athlete would not however miss the World Championships in Japan in August.
After the Namibian meet at which seven of local runners won bronze medals, BAA confirmed that two of the medal winners have made the grade. If they survive to the final official team to be announced after this weekend's competition, Isaac Makwalo (400m) and Onnanye Ramohube (high jump), will travel to the All Africa Games for the first time.
Gaseitsiwe confirmed the rest of the athletes who have already qualified as Obakeng Ngwigwa, Gakologelwang Mashetu (both based in the USA), and California Molefe (all 400m). Onalenna Oabona and Glody Dube have qualified for the 800m. Senegal-based Amantle Montsho, (400m) is also travelling. She is the only female in the team so far. German-based high jumper Kabelo Kgosiemang has also qualified along with long jumper Gable Garenamotse, who along with Molefe and Dube are in Germany this week training and competing in European meets as part of their final preparations. The 4x400m relay team selection promises to give the selectors a headache once again. The new look 4x4 team recently returned from Namibia with gold medals. The BAA is looking for three members to finalise the team but veterans such as Tshepo Kealotswe and Oganeditse Moseki will want to add experience to the team
BAA will also make a decision after tomorrow's event as to whom between Fanuel Kenosi and Tlhalosang Molapisi should represent Botswana in the 100m. Gaseitsiwe says although both of them have qualified, the BAA would want to send just one sprinter.
The long distance event selection also promises to be a heart breaker for candidates like Ndabili Bashingili, Raobene Ramoseke, Kabo Gabaseme, and Gabalebe Moloko. The All Africa Games will have a half marathon only while the candidates for the slots are all marathoners. Gaseitsiwe said they might opt for one athlete in this category or none at all.
He also revealed that despite the 4x100m men's team doing well, they have decided to ignore the relay team for the Algeria games because their performance is not up to scratch. " We do not want to take athletes just because we have been allocated spaces, we want to take the quality that we think could win us medals at the games. We are grateful to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for having shown confidence in us, but we are not just going to fill spaces for the sake of it. We might take 14 or less depending on the outcome of the weekend meet," Gaseitsiwe said.
