28 Jul 2022

Team Botswana’s departure to Cali, Columbia has been marred with

confusion, accusations and counter accusations.

The team is supposed to be in the South American country  for the World Junior Athletics Championships, which commence Monday.

However, by the time of going to press, the team was still in Pretoria where it trained at a high performance centre.

Should the team manage to leave today, it will arrive in Columbia on Sunday, leaving it with no time to rest, acclamatise and train.

 BOPA sought answers for this turn of events, but only accusations and counter accusations flew high. Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) has blamed Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) for releasing funds late, despite being aware of the championships well on time. On one hand, BNSC has accused the association of submitting request for funds late.

BNSC chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho, said in an interview that the unfortunate situation laid squarely on BAA. He said national sport associations were required to apply for funding at least four weeks before their intended travel time. However, he alleged that BAA submitted the application less than two weeks prior to departure.

To make matters worse, Serufho said, BAA wanted an additional P1 million, something that was outside their budget.

It was for this reason that the BNSC chief said BAA would face the music after the World Junior Athletics Championships.

Meanwhile, BAA vice president and team manager, Oabona Theetso, confirmed  yesterday morning that they were still in Pretoria.

By the time of the interview, he was not sure of departure time.

Theetso said they could have left on Sunday, but over and above the funds debacle, they had visa challenges, adding they only received a waiver on Tuesday.

“The trip was long planned, but the purchase order was only released on Tuesday. Now we were running helter skelter trying to secure flights, unfortunately there were none available,” he said, adding they were now struggling to secure flights.

The greatest worry is that the team will arrive late. So athletes will have no time to acclimatise, he added. Team Botswana is made up of Letsile Tebogo (100 and 200 metres); Lundi Pinaemang, and Godiraone Lobatlamang, who will compete in the 200 metres; as well as Busang Kebinatshipi, and Tumiso Gabonamong, who will compete in the 400 metres.

The 4x100 metres relay is made up of Tebogo, Pinaemang, Lobatlamang, Mooketsi Luzani, Thuso Omphile and Abotelo Leitseng, while the 4x400 men’s relay team comprises of Kebinatshipi, Gabonamong, Gaolebale Soulo, Karabo Moatshe, Unametsi Nyathi and Thabang Monngathipa.

The 4x400 mixed relay has Naledi Monthe, Obakeng Kamberuka, and Winnie Sarefo, who will be joined by other athletes after competing in their individual races. ENDS