20 Apr 2022

- Botswana Athletics Association’s (BAA)  perceived lack of focus on field events may be a thing of the past following appointment of Larona ‘Lux’ Koosimile as the association’s sports development officer (SDO).

Despite doing well in track events, Botswana has been lagging behind in field events such as javelin, high jump, long jump, short put and pole vault.

Athletics enthusiasts keep hoping that Botswana could be in the levels of Qatar, which pride itself with Mutaz Essa Barshim in high jump or Germany whose Malaika Mihambo is a marvel in long jump or US’s Ryan Crouser in shot put.

In an interview, Koosimile acknowledged that Botswana was struggling in field events.

A Botswana National Sports Commission elite scholarship beneficiary, the new SDO said he intended to use the knowledge acquired during his six-year stay in Cuba. He intended to come up with a solid plan that entailed introducing field events from primary schools through to senior level.

“At junior secondary, we will have around 14-year-olds, whom we will be able to identify and categorise according to their strengths,” he said.

He said at 17 years, learners must have solid and relevant results of field events development and be able to compete around the world.

Koosimile said it was high time pole vault was given attention in Botswana, adding that BAA had all the needed equipment for the event, except for the manpower from the technical side.

“I am well vested in field events, able to coaches in shot-put, discuss, long jump, triple jump and high jump. I can share the knowledge with level I and II coaches so that we see how best we can introduce events at primary schools,” he said.

He said that was the only way they could have results at under 17, adding that with results at that level, he was confident that athletes would perform well.

In other issues, the SDO said he was cognisant of the fact that the country was doing well in 400 metres, but struggled in other races. 

“Thanks to University of Botswana who have just introduced the High Performance Centre, I believe scholars will come and investigate the 400 metres phenomenal we have in Botswana. I think it’s high time we link with UB High Performance Centre and maybe run a study that will inform us why we do well in 400 metres,” he said.

Furthermore, he said the study could also identify why most 400 metres runners were from the northern part of the country

“Of course with the exception of Baboloki Thebe who is not from the north. In 400 metres, we have enough and we should just make sure that there is continuity,” he said.

The SDO said the most important thing was for Botswana to do well in all 47 events in athletics, adding that this therefore meant they needed a technical personnel to ensure that other events had supporting staff.

“The most important thing is to identify the talent, nurture it and we will get the desired results. 400 metres has been nurtured since Bobby Gaeitsiwe’s time and now we have Justice Dipeba and Dose Mosimanyane, who are also doing well,” he said. ENDS