02 Mar 2022

Chobe Junior Secondary School pupils have been encouraged to use failure as their step ladder to success. 

Justice Dipeba said this during an event to take the University of Botswana to people in Kasane recently.

The event gave the potential students an insight of what was required to study at UB.

Dipeba, also Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) national team coach, briefed pupils about opportunities the varsity offered.

“Ï used to fail during my school days, but did not give up. I am of the idea that excellency is not a perfection, is a journey you have to go through to be a successful person.”

He told them that whilst at Molefhi Senior Secondary School, one day he attended athletics training as an observer and was called to complete a relay team that was short of one runner. To his surprise he eclipsed even the fastest runner they had.

Despite his impressive episode, and the teachers attempt to lure him to athletics, his heart was at the football pitch as it was the case with other young men his age.

“Unlike now, I did not have a role model or anyone to guide me concerning the opportunities that came with the sport. Tried my luck in football and eventually gave in to athletics,” he added.

In 1993, Dipeba went to UB for pre-medical course and he was aiming to be an engineer.

While a first year student at UB, he competed in national championships, then went on to represent the country at African champs.

His running skills improved with time which saw him representing the country at various meets including the Olympics.

Dipeba’s impressive performance earned him athletics scholarship to study in the US.

 Though not a requirement, he changed his course to study health and human performance commonly known as Physical Education.

He later came back to be a sports officer in the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation and athletics coach at the University of Botswana.

He has so far coached some of Botswana’s top athletes such as Isaac Makwala.

He said he was given window of opportunity and utilised it.

“I have been coaching for more than 15 years, I coached the likes of Isaac Makwala who is the second fastest man in Africa and 10th in the world. I trained him at University of Botswana grounds.”

Dipeba told pupils that despite his challenges such as injuries and several failures, Makwala did not give up and continued to give his all until he became the person they admired today.

He encouraged pupils to respect themselves and to receive the same from those supporting them.

The coach advised them to always practice excellency, courage and integrity.

Dipeba told pupils to choose UB for a better future, adding that it was a better place for those with talents since the varsity possessed international standard training facilities.

He encouraged them to put effort on their academics and talents.

Under 20 World Junior Championships gold medalist, also a student at UB, Phenyo Majama encouraged pupils to work hard in their academics and sport.

‘’I never thought of myself representing my nation at the World Championships, but through determination I brought my country a gold medal.’’

He told pupils to do away with the perception that those good in sports were academically challenged, adding that it was possible to win both sides provided they put their mind to it.

The 19-year-old urged piupils to focus on education as life was tough and that they must prepare themselves to have brighter future. ENDs