21 Apr 2022

Many wondered who he was, when they saw him competing in the 60-metre race at the World Indoor Championships in Serbia last month.

This was none other than Stephen Abosi of Moshupa.

He was born at Princess Marina Hospital in 1983 to Professor Okechuku Chigorom Abosi, who is originally from Nigeria, but stayed in Botswana for more than 40 years.

Abosi senior was also a lecturer at the University of Botswana.

The Belgrade championship was the runner’s first ever national duty assignment, hence many questions about him.

Stephen Abosi is not new to the track, especially the 60-metre dash. He has been doing well in Canada.

He said in an interview that he first discovered his speed as a Standard Five pupil at Baobab Primary School, but was then dropped from the team because there was someone faster than him.

So disappointed was he at being dropped that he stopped running.

Abosi, who is a practising lawyer in Canada, said his father got a job in Malaysia where he did not play any sport because it was too hot and he could not cope with the humidity.

But in 2012, watching Nijel Amos cruising to the finish line, winning Botswana’s first ever silver medal, resuscitated his love for the track life.

“I just told myself that if Canada can take me and use the technology and teach me all the techniques, maybe I can also be fast enough,” he said.

Furthermore, he said the coaches in Canada saw something in him and he had been training ever since.

Results started showing as he managed to represent Botswana at the World Indoor Championships.

“Together with my coach, we had planned to compete at the World Indoor Championships, but COVID-19 came and we struggled to produce good times, but we managed to pick up the pieces,” he said.

Abosi said he quailed for the championship last minute, a week before the competition, adding that it was not a smooth journey for him to compete.

He said they were told that Botswana did not put any entry, while in Botswana they were asking him who he was, resulting in a lot of confusion.

Abosi said this time, he did not give up, but spent sleepless nights communicating that he qualified, and asking whether there was any way he could represent the country. “

Thanks to Botswana Athletics Association as they managed to sort it out last minute,” he said. ENDS