Tebogo sprints to Botswana’s maiden Gold
Sport
Following a long spell off season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tebogo Letsile proved his mettle to win Botswana’s first ever Gold medal at an international event with a time of 10.19 seconds, which was closer to the African Youth record that was set two decades ago by former Nigerian sprinter Davidson Ezinwa who clocked 10.05 aged 18 years in 1990.
Letsile or “Schoolboy” as he is affectionally known around athletics circles beat South Africa’s Benjamin Richardson who clocked 10.28 while Cuban Shainer Rengifo finished with a time of 10.32 sec.
The 18 year old sprinter turned heads at the on-going youth athletics competitions in Nairobi, Kenya after demonstrating an authentic performance in the 100m heat races and semi-finals.
He subsequently qualified for finals with a time of 10:11s, the first for Botswana, making him, technically the fastest athlete to ever emerge from Botswana. For the record, just like Jamaican all-time Olympic champion, American sprinters Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin, Tebogo can be a shining example at the Olympics should he be given the chance to spread his wings further.
The gold medalist, who is a student at Gaborone Senior Secondary School (GSS), exhibited a sterling performance, two weeks after the 4X400m men’s relay team took the country to Cloud 9 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. The team led by Isaac Makwala bagged a bronze medal, the first for Botswana in relay competitions, second after Nijel Amos silver at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Lanky sprinter is already lighted up the local track athletics scene with some astonishing performance that have set tongues wagging. Though he is not yet a complete package, so enchanting has been his performances that locals have found it difficult not to compare him to sprint great Usain Bolt.
Before sealing the 100 meter gold medal, Tebogo who is set to become the country’s short distance star – dominated his races at the youth championships after clocking the fastest time in the semi-final to cruise easily to the finals after setting the new national record of 10.11 in the men’s 100m semifinal.
Before the semi-finals he had run 10.22s during the 100m heat on the day. He brought the spark in the 100m sprint events in Botswana, as he has been dominating charts in localized athletics competitions. Without doubt, this power gave him the much needed poise for the games. In an interview with media, the poised athlete said he has always been eyeing for a gold medal, validated by solemnity in training ahead of this youth meet.
“I approached the heats with a decent mentality that we here for one common goal: to bring a medal home. This is something that helped me to effortlessly snatch the gold medal which is the first for the country. My instincts told me that I will wear gold.”
Even though it drizzled earlier and hence the disruption in the competition’s schedule, for Tebogo this was not much of a big deal. He shifted attention to warm ups and at the time of the race, the body was still warm and fit to lead the rest of his rivals. Tebogo has already left a mark as his auspicious performance was hard to ignore, not by international sport enthusiasts.
Prior to the winning the country’s first ever World Athletics Under 20 Championships gold medal, his semifinal performance didn’t go overlooked as the commentator led in saying ‘this Botswana runner reminds me so much of Usain Bolt, quite a rare gem that Botswana has. To a certain extent, this if factual.
Kanye native sprinter went to the World under 20 championship with a personal best and national record of 10.14 sec after smashing Isaac Makwala’s 10.20 sec in February this year, an event which granted him qualification to the World under 20 Championships.
Tebogo’s new mark of 10.14 was also a regional record, which means he will pocked P10, 000 cash for the feat from Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC). The athletes’ incentive policy of 2012 states that only athletes who break regional and international records will get cash rewards.
The young lad also proved his mettle under the 200m during the 2019 Botswana games when produced a sterling performance after he also broke Baboloki Thebe’s 200m national record of 21:25 sec, eventually winning the gold medal after recording an impressive time of 21.12 seconds which also book his plane ticket to Nairobi, Kenya.
Sport
It’s do or die for Zebras
The senior national team, the Zebras, is currently in Equatorial Guinea to for an African Cup of Nations Qualifiers tie. Before they departed, the team’s coach, Mogomotsi Mpote, had his troops train in Morocco. This was through the agreement between the two countries.
The agreement between the BFA and the FĂ©dĂ©ration Moroccan Football Association states that the two nations will work together to organize friendly matches between their respective national teams. It also allows the establishment of football camps for the youth categories (U-15, U-17, and U-20), this includes women’s national teams.
The national team has played over 180 minutes in its two qualifying matches against Tunisia and Libya. Currently, the Zebras, Lesotho and Liberia are the only teams that haven’t scored yet in the competition (this is correct by press time on Friday).
Before the match against Equatorial Guinea match, the local boys who were once known as the whipping boys of Africa in the early 2000s, were languishing at the bottom of the log standings in group J. They lost their first match away to Libya on June 1, 2022. However, they managed to salvage a point against Tunisia last year.
Before the team left for Equatorial Guinea, coach Mpote urged his players to focus on keeping their hopes of making a return trip to the AFCON finals alive after an 11 year absence since the maiden appearance in 2012. He noted that they would not allow their opponents to score and would ensure that they would get a draw.
Despite the various changes that have occurred in the two countries’ football landscape, the two teams have only met once before. In 2010, the local boys defeated the Equatorial Guinea team in a friendly match, which ended in an emphatic win for the visitors. Since then, the two sides have realised different fortunes in FIFA rankings, with Equatorial Guinea ranked 51 places above the Zebras.
Meanwhile, in their last six games, Guinea has only managed to win one of them. They drew with Rwanda and Togo in September 2022 friendlies. They have found the back of the net just twice in their six games. On the other hand, the Zebras, won one match against Zambia and lost four on their way to finishing at the bottom of the group with four points. At the conclusion of their previous AFCON campaign, the local boys traveled to Zambia and secured a draw.
MPOTE CONFIDENT
Despite the recent results of the Guinean team, which have only managed to draw with Rwanda and Togo in their last six matches, coach Mpote is still confident that his team will perform well against the hosts.
According to the head coach, the local boys have the necessary skills and resources to perform well against any country. He noted that the team’s coaches have been studying abroad to gain a deeper understanding of the various aspects of football.
“Tactically they should also be ready. We need your (Botswana fans) usual support, when we come back from Equatorial Guinea, we will go to Francistown, and we will need you. You are our 12th player, and you are very important to us.”
OBED ITANI CHILUME STADIUM CERTIFIED
This week, the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) Tuelo Serufho revealed that the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium will host the return leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the local boys and Equatorial Guinea. The venue had initially failed an inspection test conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, following the completion of the necessary works, the stadium was allowed to host the match.
According to BNSC Chief, Tuelo Serufho, the various requirements that the stadium must meet included having a designated parking area for the media and spectators, as well as having signage that will guide the spectators. He also noted that the venue now has a world-class media area.
Sport
Jagdish Shah rejects Rollers society
Township Rollers, one of the country’s most decorated football clubs with 15 premier league titles, is finding itself in a precarious situation as its long-term chief financier, Jagdish Shah, threatens to dump them if the society does not bow down to his demand of forfeiting their 20 percent interest in the company.
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Sport
Orange injects P350 000 into Phikwe marathon
Mobile network Orange Botswana is committed to supporting the development of local sport. Through its sponsorship, the company will be able to promote and market the sport. According to Maano Masisi, the company believes that sport can unite people from different backgrounds.
He stated that through the sponsorship of the marathon, the company will help promote healthy lifestyles and unity among the people of Selebi Phikwe.
The Selebi Phikwe Marathon is scheduled to take place on July 29, 2023. It is expected that it will attract international, regional, and social runners. A total of P216 000 has been allocated for the prize money for the first ten places in the 42.2 km race. For the 15km and 10km races, the LOC will give away prizes to the first five places.