22 Dec 2021

The year 2021 was a rollercoaster ride for Botswana sport with highs and lows with the latter mainly caused the COVID-19 pandemic.

While some codes survived the uncertainty others were thrown into hibernation or torpid state.

Team sports were the most hit by the COVID-19 protocols and movement restrictions that were put in place to curb the spread of the virus.

The team sports not only have many players, they also have supporters who usually throng venues in large numbers.

However, despite the unforeseen challenges caused by COVID-19 pandemicn some codes registered unprecedented achievements.

BOPA sport desk complied the year’s highlight.

Olympics

In an unprecedented move Botswana sent a total of 14 athletes to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in July.

Athletics dispatched the world renowned 800m sprinter Nigel Amos.

In 400 metres, athletics sent ‘solo runner’ Isaac Makwala, the decorated Amantle Montsho, the promising Christene Botlogetswe and Galefele Moroko.

For the 4x400m men’s relay, the experienced Makwala led a team comprising Baboloki Thebe, Zibani Ngozi, Bayapo Ndori and Anthony Pesela.

The team got bronze that the nation celebrated heartily. Botswana National Olympic Committee had set a target of two medals.

Other athletes, were James Freeman of Swimming, Magdeline Moyengwa of weightlifting and two boxers Keamogetse Kenosi and Rajab Otukile.

Athletes Gloria Majaga and Edwin Masuge represented the country at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Game, where the duo was unsuccessful in securing podium finishes.

Following a disappointing show in Tokyo, Botswana was on course to redeem the lost blue, black and white pride, scooping three gold and one silver medals at the World Athletics under 20 Championships held in Nairobi.

The boys 4x 400 metres relay, Anthony Pesela in 400m, and Letsile Tebogo in 100m garnered gold while Tebogo got silver in 200m.

Karate

Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) saw little action this year, with just a show at the prestigious World Senior Karate Championships in Dubai.

Botswana sent two male karatekas, Kagiso Mophuting and Gofaone Mosupiemang to contest the World Karate Federation (WKF) sanctioned tournament.

Sadly the two Botswana athletes fell off the preliminaries.

Still at the tournament, caretaker coach of the national team, China Metswi got a WKF accreditation as a kata coach.

BOKA did not host any local tournament owing to COVID-19 restrictions.

BOKA also failed to send a team to the UFAK Africa cup played in Egypt due to travel restrictions.

On a positive note, BOKA signed a MoU with Botswana Red Cross for the provision of first aid course.

BOKA also penned down an agreement with BOTESSA on technical issues.

BOKA president Tshepo Bathai was elevated to the Region 5 executive committee as secretary.

Sensei Bathai was also appointed as treasurer of the Commonwealth Karate federation. BOKA held the referees and coaching courses in Gaborone and Francistown.

Despite a long layoff, the association managed to appoint national team coaches.

Sensei Christopher Ponatshego and Keone Kgorotlhe were charged with leading the team as head coach and assistant respectively.

Boxing

Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) ended the year on a positive note, despite being thrown on the side-lines due to inactivity.

The highlight was the Summer Olympics participation of two national team boxers, Keamogetse Kenosi and Rajab Mohammed.

Kenosi made history by becoming the first woman boxer to represent Botswana at the Olympics.

The duo was under the watchful eye of former national team champion Lechedzani Luza assisted by Chonga Ntoti.

The association finally managed to stage the annual rotational interclub tournament after a lengthy break. A national team of young boxers was also sent to Lesotho for the AUSC region 5 youth games.

BoBA managed to hold a successful elective congress in Gaborone to usher in a new committee after postponing twice due to state of emergency and the pandemic challenges.

Former national team manager and champion Gilbert Khunwane was elected to lead the association assisted by Othusitse Mogotsakgotla.

Tennis

Owing to their youth development programme, Botswana Tennis Association saw under 18 players competing in International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments in a number of countries around the world.

The BTA also ensured that some senior as well as junior players relocated overseas to hone their skills amongst the best.

Some of the players playing college tennis in the United States of America (USA) are Thato Holmes and Tshepo Mosarwa, who won the USA South Men’s Tennis Conference Championship in mid-2021.

Anele Maplanka and Bonolo Molefe are also playing college tennis in the USA, while other players are expected to fly out of the country in 2022.

Sixteen-year-old Ekau Youri, based in Spain and training with Barcelona Tennis Academy, won two women open tournaments this year and reached the final. She recently won ITF under 18 tournament in Spain, beating number one seed, Sarah Tatu of Britain.

Naledi Reguin is also doing exceptionally well in France, where she is based. Most of local players have improved their international rankings, which brings them closer to competing in big events such as Junior Wimbledon, US and French Open.

The national tennis team finished second during the Africa Davis Cup that was held in Congo, Brazzaville and they secured a spot in the playoffs.

The association held a number of successful local tournaments and in an effort to increase participation in tennis, BTA in collaboration with ITF launched beach tennis.

Table Tennis

Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) managed to satisfy all the set requirements to host tournaments during pandemic, as they successfully held their monthly events including Independence Grand Finale, which carried a life changing award of P25 000 for each category, on top of prize money.

The Grand Finale has seen growth in the number of players, as more than 100 took part in the tournament.

In this year’s Grand Finale, both men and women’s champions won the life changing award, each walking away with P31 000

In 2020, BTTA women ranked number one, Tshephiso Rebatenne was the only one who managed to win the award.

Senior and junior national teams took part at South African Regional Championships, where Rebatenne and Bakang Maloka brought home a bronze medal each.

The national team also took part in Africa Senior World Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon. BTTA on December 11-13 hosted Phoenix Assurance Regional championships.

Cycling

About three members of the Botswana Cycling Association (BCA) executive committee resigned, following a misunderstanding regarding the applicable constitution that the Association was currently using to run its affairs.

However, it later emerged that there were two documents in contention; the 2008 Constitution and the revised 2015 Constitution.

Therefore, an emergency Elective Annual General Assembly was conducted, and Mmetla Masire was once more elected as president.

Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) awarded BCA the Elite Scholarship Fund, and the beneficiary is 19-year-old Lebopo Mompe, who will be heading for Australia next year.

The association’s hopes for an Olympic wildcard were severely dented as entry to Mountain Bike Cross Country (MTB XCO) discipline at the 2020 Olympic Games was not successful.

The association ended the year with National Championships which attracted competitive riders. Cycling clubs also staged successful competitive races.

Football

Despite an 18 months hiatus during the State of Public Emergency, where there had been no competitive domestic club football, Jwaneng Galaxy and Orapa United made a mark in continental competition.

Galaxy reached the group stage of the CAF Champions League, becoming the second local club after Township Rollers achieved the feat in 2018.

After roping in South African coach, Morena Ramoreboli, who had just led his country’s national team Bafana Bafana to triumph in the regional COSAFA Cup, Galaxy made their mark in the continent.

They first dispatched off Diplomates Football Club (DFC) of the Central African Republic (CAR), winning 2-0 at home in Gaborone, before cementing the tie win on 2-1 aggregate despite the 1-0 away loss in Cameroon.

Galaxy then proceeded to eliminate Tanzanian giants Simba, an experienced side that had reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League the season before.

All seemed lost when Galaxy were defeated 2-0 in Gaborone in the first leg. But, the Jwaneng side mounted a spirited away performance, winning 3-1 for a 3-3 aggregate score line; and managed to progress on the away goal rule having struck three times in Dar es Salaam.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, Orapa United drew 0-0 with AS Mangasport of Gabon, both away at Libreville and at home in Gaborone necessitating a penalty shootout that Orapa won 3-2.

In the second round, Orapa first defeated Coton Sport of Cameroon at home before going away and being minutes away from being the first local club to proceed to the Confederation Cup group stage.

Having kept the score line at 0-0 until the 90th minute mark, Orapa seemed on their way, but experienced injury time heartbreak, conceding a stoppage time goal to Coton Sport. The Cameroonian side won through the benefit of their away goal having tied the contest at 2-2 aggregate.

Women’s football in November received a shot in the arm from Diamond Trading Company Botswana, as they sponsored the league with P2.4 Million and part of the amount is expected to be channelled towards development.

Obituaries

This year, Botswana lost some sport icons, amongst them two popular coaches. Major David Bright took his last breath at SKMH on January 25, while Keitumetse “Pio” Paul lost his life to the pandemic on April 13.

The country also lost  Elsie Kenosi and Ishmael Bhamjee. May their souls rest in peace. Ends