Pair excluded from Commonwealth incentives
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday March 11, 2023 06:00
The two athletes, Tsaone Sebele and Oarabile Tshosa were roped into the team as reserves after Motlatsi Rante and Thomphang Basele picked some minor injuries during training.
According to information reaching Mmegi Sport, Sebele and Tshosa were reserves on the day of the competition, but there were no rounds for the relay but only the final, which meant Rante and Basele were able to compete. When the team returned home, Sebele and Tshosa were informed that they were not registered as part of the relay team.
“The two athletes were excluded from the list but we cannot say the same thing with the men’s team, Isaac Makwala pulled out of the team and was replaced by Boitumelo Masilo.
The athlete received his incentives without any hiccups. These are two similar instances with different outcomes,” a source argued. Masilo had qualified for the 800m only to be included in the 4x400m relay team in Birmingham. The team manager, Amogelang Masugae said he was given four names for the relay by coach Justice Dipeba.
“The women’s relay team did not have reserves as per the coaches' instructions. Only the men’s team had reserves. That is why I did not include Sebele and Tshosa in my report that I handed to the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC),” he said.
Sebele’s club, Lion’s Den wrote to the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) general manager this month to enquire about the 'long overdue payments'. “Sebele has not received her incentives and local allowance despite being part of the women’s 4x400m relay team and the team reached the Commonwealth Games final.
Despite several follow-ups by other means of communication through Larona Koosimile as BAA Sports Development Officer, the athlete has not been paid,” reads a letter from the club. Tshosa has been paid her local allowances while Sebele is still empty-handed. Responding to an enquiry from Mmegi Sport, the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) strategy and business development manager, Baboni Kupe explained that the BNOC does not deal directly with athletes, but rather the National Federations (NF) to which the athletes belong. However, Kupe said the official team list as submitted by the relevant federation, the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA), had listed Sebele under 100m and 200m disciplines. “The athlete’s performance under said disciplines, therefore, did not qualify her for any incentives.
For additional clarity the BNOC would refer you to the BAA for the alleged outstanding incentives,” Kupe said. Meanwhile, BAA vice president, Oabona Theetso said the Commonwealth Games trip belongs to BNOC and they are the ones to resolve the matter. “The BNOC was paying athletes directly. The money was not deposited into the BAA account. As it stands, we cannot confirm anything regarding allowances,” Theetso said.