24 Feb 2022

Manchester based sport science lecturer, Simon O’Brien, is here for 10 days to work with Botswana Athletics Association (BAA).

“Essentially, I am here to see how the BAA team is preparing for major games and I will be testing them in terms of strength and power,” he said in an interview.

O’Brien is also expected to donate massage guns and physio beds to be used in preparations for the Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

The visiting lecturer said the donations were from Polsloe, leaders in technology and preparation for recovery

The massage guns, O’Brien said, would be used before training, during and after competitions, adding that they mainly helped to increase blood circulation, loosen muscles and facilitate removal of lactic acid.

BAA vice president, Oabona Theetso, said they were happy that O’Brien would donate some equipment to the association as well as assess their athletes.

He said in assessment of athletes, he would be checking their injuries as well as advising coaches and athletes as how to avoid chances of getting injuries.

Theetso said O’Brien would also meet with the BAA medical team to empower them and build a relationship with them.

The VP said this season they would take part in a number of major competitions, therefore it was imperative that athletes were fit to compete.

“We have World Championships, World Junior Championships, Commonwealth Games and Africa Championships coming, so for us to win medals in this competitions, athletes had to be injury free,” he said.

Theetso, however, said he was happy with the progress of athletes given that BAA series continued to help athletes to qualify. Ends