Sello Motseta
11th August 2021
Botswana’s Olympic bronze medal winning and record breaking 4x400m men quartet comprising of just about to retire Isaac Makwala, Baboloki Thebe, Zibane Ngozi, Bayapo Ndori as well as Leungo Scotch and Anthony Pasela, will each be offered a 2 bedroomed house officials revealed today.
The athletes who were only Botswana athletes to mount podium during medal award ceremony, will also receive P50,000.00 each as well as P2,000.00 individually for setting a new African record.
“We want you to retire and lead comfortable lives as it is disheartening to see a former sports star living in poverty. Please seek financial advice from the Botswana national sports Commission(BNSC) Botswana National Olympic Committee(BNOC) or financial institutions, For example, the Ministry has an MoU with First National Bank(FNB) and they would be happy to advise you,” said Tumiso Rakgare, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, at a welcome gala dinner at AVANI.
He said, “Reaching the finals of key events, setting an African record for the 4 x 400m relay and the icing on the cake which is the bronze medal for the 4 x 400m relay(men) was brilliant. This is only our second Olympic medal since our maiden appearance at the 1980 games.”
According to officials, the athletes received appropriate support while training in camp and received the daily allowances of P7,500.00 per athlete even when they had to return home. In spite of Covid-19 disruptions to team camps, athletes also received a food hamper valued at P2,200.00.
Each local athlete who qualified for the Tokyo Olympics received a monthly allowance of P8,333.00 for welfare and upkeep. Games were rewarded with P25,000.00 and the coaches P10,000.00. Nijel Amos will received P5000.00 for attaining a top 8 position in the 800m.
Isaack Makwala will receive P5,000.00 for attaining top 8 position in 400m, P50,000.00 for bronze and P2,000.00 for being part of the team that set a new African record. The relay team members were buoyant upon their return to Botswana promising further success in the 1 lap race.
“This is the beginning. There is more to come,” said Zibane Ngozi despite the impending retirement of anchor runner Isaacc Makwala. He maintained, “I want to tell you that you will see us again next year dominating at the Commonwealth Games.”
14 Botswana athletes qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a first female boxer Keamogetse Kenosi, First Olympian Weightlifter Magdeline Moyengwa and qualification in three major events. 400m specialist Amantle Montsho, has announced that she will retire from athletics.
Botswana’s most decorated female athlete she was the first to represent Botswana at an Olympics and is the former World Champion over the 400m discipline. At the 2010 Diamond League circuit she won at the Bislett Games and was ranked second overall in the 400 m behind the legendary American athlete Allyson Felix.
Montsho ran her fastest time in 2010 at the Continental Cup where, representing Africa, she beat Debbie Dunn to win the gold medal in 49.89 seconds. She competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games becoming Botswana’s first-ever gold medallist with a Games record time of 50.10 seconds.
At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in South Korea, in the 400 metres final, she beat Alyson Felix to become Botswana‘s first World track and field champion.
At the 2012 Olympics final she placed 4th with 49.75 seconds. At the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow, she came second to British Christine Ohuruogu in the 400 metres final, losing by just four-thousandths of a second when Ohuruogu dipped and she remained upright.
