BG correspondent

ATHLETICS
Botswana team that left this week for Kenya to take part in the Africa Senior Championships has vowed to amass more medals than they did in the last edition. In 2008 when the team competed in the same competition in Ethiopia, Botswana brought home two gold medals by Amantle Montsho (400m) and Kabelo Kgosiemang and bronze medals for Fanuel Kenosi (200 m) and the 4 x 400m men relay team. This time around, Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) does not shy away from hoping for more medals because they believe they have sent their crème de la creme in seniors. This time they also have their sights on winning gold in the 4x400m relay as well as in the 200m race.
BAA president Moses Bantsi speaks volumes about this team and has no doubt that they have sent a winning team. He told BG Sport that they were excited about this team because the majority of the young athletes have gone through their development programme which aims at readying them for the 2012 Olympic Games and beyond. The oldest in the team is Montsho at 27 while most are still in their early 20’s.
Bantsi added that the team left early to acclimatise and also with the hope of having a few practice races before the competition starts on July 28.
One interesting thing about this team is the number of females that have been sent. The coach, Bobby Gaseitsiwe, will be spoilt for choice and this time around the women’s 400m relay team is expected to perform well and forget about their 2008 mishap when they dropped the baton in the finals and were disqualified. The team comprises of Montsho, Lydia Mushila, Kgalalelo Sefu, Seonyatseng Nthompe, Mpho Mangope, Oarabile Babolai and Goitseone Seleka. Although Babolai is also in the 110m and 400m hurdles with Seleka also in the 800m race, they are expected to lend a helping hand if needed.
The likes of Mushila, a Botswana College of Agriculture (BCA) student, was discovered at the Botswana Tertiary Student Sports Association (BOTESSA) structures and the just ended Confederation of University and College Sport Association (CUCSA) games. Seleka, who may be less known and a new entrant into this team, is expected to pull a surprise or two. Mushila and Seleka join Montsho who needs no introduction in the continent as the defending champion in 400m race and has lately been terrorising some of the world’s favourites. There is also Nthompe, a young lady blessed with talent and perseverance. Babolai has proven herself amongst her peers that she is the best and now Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) junior female award winner.  On the ladies side, there is also Bonolo Maretele in heptathlon, and she will be making a debut in the senior team although she has competed before at other levels.
On the other hand, their male counterparts are also medal contenders. The team comprises Isaac Makwala (4x400m and 400m), Tiroyaone Masake (4x400m and 400m), Pako Seribe (4x400m and 400m), Thapelo Otlogetswe (4x400m and 400m) and Sakarea Kamberuka (4x400m and 400m). Other athletes are Kenosi (100 and 200m), Onalenna Baloi (800m) and Kgosiemang (high jump). The team returns on August 3.