Since its inception, Jwaneng Athletics Club has proven to be a mine of athletics diamonds, its conveyor belt churning star athlete after star athlete.
The list of names who have come through the club is impressive. This list includes the likes of 11 times 100m and 200m women national champion Tsaone Sebele, 4X400m women Commonwealth Games silver medallist Loungo Matlhaku and 4x400m men’s Paris Olympic silver medallist Collen Kebinatshipi.
Other notable alumni of the club are Thapelo Ketlogetswe, Karabo Mothibi, Ditiro Sebele, Xholane Talane, Joy Mphatho, Gosego Mokokwe, Laone Ditshetelo, Lundi Pinaemang, Gorata Thebe, Kevin Lobatlamang, Benard Olesitse and Aobakwe Malau, just to mention but a few.
Of late, the club has given the country its current under 20 800m national champion Mcdonald Jansen, 2023 Africa Junior championships high jump bronze medalist Taolo Lesole, Nairobi 2021 World under 20 men’s 4x400m relay champions Oreeditse Masede and Thusoyaone Ganatlhong as well as other junior national team athletes like Same Mhutsiwa and Lefatshe Seleka.
These names are just a few of the athletes who have come through the ranks of JAC. The full list is exhaustive. They are a reflection of the hard work the club has put through to unearth talent despite lack of resources.
“The club managed to unearth so many talented athletes over the years mainly due to the commitment of its leadership. That is the difference. Hard work and passion for development of athletes,” JAC coach Chilume “Chippa” Ntshwarang explains.
Ntshwarang says to ensure the club keeps unearthing national athletics treasurers, its leadership has to sacrifice personal resources. “This club started small, mainly working with people within the Jwaneng area. Over the years, it has grown its catchment area to cover areas surrounding the mine,” he says.
While the club churns out track and field diamonds, it however struggles to keep most of its star athletes due to lack of resources. Most of the athletes are taken by well-resourced clubs who can cater for their basic needs. This has seen JAC mostly exist as a transit point for talent, not a destination, something the club hierarchy would like to change.
“It hurts to see our star athletes leave. It means we cannot have elite athletes in our team. It means we cannot entirely showcase what Jwaneng is producing. We wish we could keep these athletes, but we also have to understand they have to make a living out of their talents and we let them go.”
The club understands that to keep its talented athletes, it has to match the well-resourced clubs in terms of what it can offer to the athletes. Unfortunately, it struggles to find sponsors despite its brilliant track record in mining human athletics diamonds.
“Athletics, unlike other sporting codes like football and netball, is only gaining popularity right now. We are working hard to find sponsors but it is not easy,” Ntshwarang says.
In as much as things are difficult, all is not doom and gloom. JAC occasionally get help from the Jwaneng mine. This help normally comes in the form of athletes’ transportation to and from local and cross-border competitions. This assistance enables athletes from the club to grow through exposure to competition.
Despite its resource challenges, the club is determined to keep unearthing talent. Ntshwarang says the intention “is to produce athletes who can earn a living though their athletics talents.”
To achieve this, the club is hopeful it can find partners and sponsors. The club leadership is currently knocking on various doors, hoping for assistance with resources.
