Botswana Athletics Association (BAA)’s 400 metres sprinter Leungo Scotch emerged the biggest winner over the weekend during the 40th Botswana National Sports Commission Awards held over the weekend. Scotch won three awards on the night.
Scotch scooped the prestigious top honour of Sportsperson of the Year award. The award was sponsored by Debswana for the value of P100 000 courtesy of Debswana. He also won the Sportsman of the year Award and the third was the National team award he won through 4x400m relay team.
The 24 year old set a new personal best of 45.27s to win the men’s 400 metres event and scooped Gold medal with the men’s 4x400m relay at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco. The 4×400 relay team was ranked first in Africa in 2019. Of his other accolade he competed as a semifinalist at the 2019 World Athletics Championships.
In his acceptance speech, Scotch thanked his coach Kebonemodisa Mosimanyane, who was awarded the Coach of the Year Award and P10 000.
“I am happy for the recognition as the sportsman of the year, I was not expecting the esteemed award, I would like to thank my coach who made it possible for me to get this far,” he added.
BAA walked away with both prominent awards sponsored by Debswana when Galefele Moroko snatched the Sportswoman award tuned at P50 000.
“We thank Debswana, BNSC, Botswana National Olympic Committee, and the Ministry of Sport and Culture for the empowerment. We are thankful for the awards towards our athletes and coach, the awards will serve as motivation towards the Olympics next year,” said BAA president Paphane Botlhale.
In other awards, Refilwe Gabatswane of chess walked away with Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year and Denzel Seetso of tennis scooped Junior Male Sportsperson of the Year Award. Botswana Basketball Association’s (BBA) Dorothy Okatch was awarded Empire or Referee of the Year Award while Gorata Malehaneng of Special Olympics walked away with Sportsperson with Disability Award and Thato Patlakwe of Botswana Boxing Association.
Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry responsible for Sport, Bruno Paledi, who was standing for the minister said his ministry believes in sport to transform an individual’s life and the nation’s economy, therefore the government promises to continue to support sport in the country and to urge private sector to support the sport industry.
