In 2010, Nijel Amos, then a little known athlete from Botswana, won a medal at the inaugural Africa Youth Games in Rabat, Morocco and cemented Botswana as a major player in African athletics, with a total of six medals from the games. That was the beginning of the rise of Amos. The young man went on to win a gold medal at the 2012 World Youth Games in Barcelona, Spain before snatching silver at the London Olympics.
Amos made his debut at the Diamond League this past Friday. Once again, all eyes will be on Amos at the 2nd Africa Youth Games, which will take place in Gaborone eleven days from today. The country will count on Amos to lead Botswana athletes to glory. Hopefully, we will also witness the emergence of new superstars who will fly the national flag high as the country strives to make its mark in international athletics. While a lot is expected from the whole Botswana team, here Sunday
Standard Sports takes a closer look at a few athletes who will carry Botswana’s hopes during the games.
Athletics
Galefele Moroko
Athletics carry Botswana’s biggest medal prospects. Botswana will field at least 32 athletes for the games and young athletes like the Tsau born Galefele Moroko are expected to launch their careers.
Moroko is undoubtedly a rising star and she is widely touted as the heiress to Amantle Montsho’s 400m reign. Her past performances on the tracks lend credence to this school of thought and she is definitely the one to watch in the 400m during the AYG. Though her athletics career is relatively new, Moroko’s medal collection is enviable. She is one of the most decorated athletes on the track having raked in gold medals against her peers in local and regional competitions alike.
Internationally, Moroko has also shown potential to be a future world record breaker. The youngster won a bronze medal in the 400m at the African Youth Championships in Nigeria before following it up with a gold medal in the same event at the International School Sports Association games at Sokolov, Czech Republic. In Sokolov, she was also voted the games’ most valuable female performer.
Baboloki Thebe
Another athlete to look out for will be upcoming sprinter Baboloki Thebe. After a slow start to his track career, Thebe is finally coming of age. He failed to shine at last year’s Confederation of School Sport Associations of Southern Africa (COSSASA) games, but the youngster rebounded and was in imperious form at this year’s COSSASA games, winning gold medals in both the 100m and 200m sprints before helping his Botswana team win gold in the boys’ medley relay. Thebe also won himself a trophy after he singularly broke the 100m COSSASA record time and the 100m relay record, together with his medley team.
Karabo Sibanda
This is yet another athlete to look out for. Though he made his athletics breakthrough this past year, the 400m and 200m runner has already shown rare class and finesse that elevate him to a higher pedestal among his peers, a revered class of superstars that Botswana’s athletics factory line continues to churn out. When he broke into the athletics limelight in 2013, Sibanda won four medals in the Botswana Integrated Sports Associations (BISA) finals. He repeated the same feat this year before going on to win bronze in the 200m and gold in the boys’ medley relay at the recent COSASSA games.
Netball
Netball will be making its debut for the first time since the Africa Youth Games started in 2010. Botswana will be looking to show its prowess by winning a medal in this code and some of the current team members will be tested ahead of the 2017 World Youth Netball Championships which will be hosted by Botswana. The AYG will be used to prepare the starlets for the netball championships.
Tara Matija
Botswana is rebuilding its netball team after suffering a few setbacks at senior level in the last year and this is the team that will be used to revive the country’s fortunes in the future. Captain Tara Matija will tap into her experiences in the national team, after being roped in as a development player, to lead her youthful team mates to a medal finish. The Maun born lass came to the fore as a player for the Gaborone team that won silver during the 2011 Botswana Games where she showed her ability to play both as a Goal Scorer (GS) and in Goal Attack (GA). She went on to win bronze with the Botswana team at the COSSASA games in 2012 before doing the same with UB Crystals in the My Spar Netball league this past year. During the games, Matija will be expected to lead Botswana’s goal charge.
Kagiso Mothuba
Another young netballer who is expected to shine in the games is diminutive Notwane netball team player Kagiso Mothuba. After making her breakthrough at Nanogang Junior Secondary School, Mothuba went on to play for both Botswana’s BISA and COSSASA teams, winning medals along the way. She will run the roost in the middle of the court as she is capable of playing either through the Centre (C) or in Wing Attack (WA).
Sarona Hans
A student at St. Joseph’s College student, the young lass from Karakubis is a product of Notwane netball team’s development structures. The 2013 BISA under 17 team captain is a very decorated young player, having been named best player at Maikano Junior Secondary School in 2011 and 2012, before taking the accolade again at St. Joseph’s College this past year. The youngster is expected to help Botswana’s medal charge from defense as she can play in defense and wing defense.
