05 Mar 2024

Team Botswana, which is scheduled to compete at the 13^th edition of African Games to be held in Accra, Ghana from March 8-23 will be in good hands, says the team’s chef de mission, Shadrack Kapeko.

Kapeko, who was part of the advance team to Ghana, said the facilities were up to standard, although it was hot and humid.

He disclosed that Team Botswana would be residing at African Olympic Games village, which would be situated at the University of Ghana.

He said judo, beach volleyball and swimming teams together with their administrators had already arrived, adding that Batswana who were residing in Ghana, were also waiting to receive and cheer  Team Botswana throughout the competition.   

He said the second group of athletes to arrive was expected to be the boxing and tennis teams on March 11 and 12 respectively, while the last group, being athletics, basketball and taekwondo were expected in Accra on March 14. 

He explained that the official opening of the games would be on Thursday and Team Botswana would take part and showcase their culture and they would be parading with leteitsi.  

He said the first code to compete would be karate on Thursday, followed by beach volleyball on Saturday, while judo would compete on Sunday.Meanwhile Kapeko said the codes that would be competing were now 11 and not nine as previously reported with karate and chess as late inclusions.

The other codes are athletics boxing, basketball 3x3, beach volleyball, taekwondo, tennis, swimming, judo and weightlifting.  General Team Manager, Obakeng Ngwigwa said he was happy that the athletes had been sensitised about the danger of doping before departing for the games.

He said before boarding the plane to Accra, there was a compulsory course called WADA’s Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform (ADEL).

He said ADEL was a required entry requirement for the African Olympic Games village in Accra, hence all athletes who were on camp had to complete it.

He pointed out that ADEL gave the athletes insight about anti-doping adding that he was confident that it had “opened the eyes” of the athletes. Ends