03 Feb 2025

The hushed silence of empty school playing fields hangs heavy over the future of Botswana athletics. 

For the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA), the absence of school sports has created a talent drought, a chilling reality laid bare by the BAA regional chairperson (north), Isaac Mbise. He said with the absence of school sports, the future of these young athletes looks bleak. 

“The development of athletes begins at the grassroots, nurtured from a young age. Without school sports, that crucial foundation is crumbling, and we currently have no effective intervention,” said Mbise. 

This lack of early identification, he stresses, directly threatens Botswana’s ability to compete on the international stage.

“Young talent is vital,” he emphasised, adding that the weight of the nation’s athletics is pinned on these young athletes.

 This stark reality played out this Saturday at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium, the scene of the first BAA field and track event. Despite the hopeful energy buzzing around the stadium, the competition yielded no qualifying times for international events. 

Yet, amidst the muted celebrations, a flicker of hope ignited. The junior secondary school athletes, raw but brimming with potential, offered a glimpse of a brighter future, a future dependent on early guidance and nurturing.

The senior men’s 100m race, in particular, captured the imagination. The starting pistol cracked, and from the pack, Thabo Molapo exploded. He dominated his rivals leaving trail in his wake.

Then, with five metres to go, something extraordinary happened. He unleashed a final burst of speed, a breathtaking surge of power that left the crowd gasping, winning the race by clocking 10:71. He ran like a wounded buffalo, untamed and unstoppable, leaving a legacy of hope for the future of Botswana athletics, a future that critically depends on the return of school sports. 

He was followed by Oagang Chimuwunde who clocked 10:84 while Kabo Keolebile clocked 11:02 settling for third position. 

Again, in one of the under 20 men hits, four were disqualified for false starts, highlighting a critical need for coaching teachers to dedicate more time to teaching athletes about proper starting procedures.

The situation was further exacerbated when Fulukani Aobakwe of Thalogang Junior Secondary School, despite a declared false start, continued to run. Ignoring spectators shouting “Hey, stop! It is a false start!”, he completed the race, only to suffer muscle pull at the finish line.

This left her in third place, amongst the three remaining competitors after the disqualifications. The incident underscores a significant coaching gap in fundamental athletics techniques. 

The race was won by Maphane Botlhe clocking 11:68, followed by That Aupiti with a time of 12:38 while Aobakwe trailed behind in third position, with a time of 13:06. 

Meanwhile, in the field category, Goitseone Joel and Tshegofatso Bojosi etched their names into Botswana athletics history at the event, setting new national records in the high jump and long jump respectively. 

Joel soared to a remarkable 1.72m in the high jump, while Bojosi leaped an impressive 6.45m in the long jump, beating their closest competitors in both events.

Bojosi’s victory in the long jump was particularly hard-fought, with Neo Theetso finishing a close second at 5.76m and Ludo Mbekwa in third with a jump of 5.39m. The duo’s outstanding performances marked a significant achievement for Botswana athletics. ENDS