21 Jun 2023

All eyes will be on Botswana’s 13 year-old motor sport trailblazer Elang Chibana as she will be taking on her contenders in the coming Toyota Gazoo Racing 1000 Desert race.

Age and gender has not deterred her from partaking in the male dominated motor sport and will be one of the 125 CC category contenders during the meet slated for Jwaneng starting Friday and ending Sunday.

The Form One student at Mathiba Junior Secondary School in Kanye had shown love for motor sport at a tender age, inspired by his brother, Teto, who is a motor bike rider.

Her father, Gomolemo Chibana bought her first motor bike at the age of four, after realising that the sport was close to her heart and with the hope that it would keep her from social ills.

According to her father, he used to take his daughter to events such as Khawa Dune Challenge for fun rides, to give her exposure.

He explained that she started racing with boys at the age of six and most of the time she did not perform well, but that did not discourage her.

At the age of 12, she moved from 85 CC to 125 CC category, where she started racing with ladies, adding that she would be competing under the same category during the weekend race.

“Everything is very expensive in this sport and I have been sponsoring her all along with the help from Tumo Tumo,” he said.

He highlighted that Elang had been part of the national team that represented Botswana in countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Upon realising her potential, he said Botswana National Spoets Council included her in the Zebra fund and they started assisting her when going for competitions with full kit, accommodation, meals and funds for fuel to transport her and her bike.

“We are grateful for the help and positive results had already started showing, looking at her improved performance,” he added.

Chibana further highlighted that just like school, sport was important as it had the potential to be a source of income.

He advised parents to allow their children to follow their passions and support them, noting that when someone loves what they do, they usually prosper.

Her father said he wanted his daughter to be an exemplary, that a girl child also had the potential to do well in male dominated sport.

Chibana apealed to potential sponsors to assist those in sport, as it had the potential to significantly contribute to the economy.

For her part, Elang explained that she was elated to be part of the desert race, even though she was a bit nervous since it was her first time to compete in an  event of such a magnitude.

Her aim was to compete in big international events such as Dakar Rally by the age of 18.

Regarding her studies, she highlighted that her teachers were deeply concerned when she missed classes for competitions, adding that she had requested the teachers to give her school work before going for competitions so that she could balance her studies and sport. ENDS