Botswana�s 50 finest sport moments and personalties

Staff Writer | Wednesday September 28, 2016 15:37

 

Dipsy Selolwane

1. Nijel breaks Olympics jinx

After 32 years of agony, it took an 18-year-old Marobela born 800m star, Nijel Amos to break the Olympic Games medal jinx. Botswana had been participating in the games since 1980 without luck until a ‘fast and furious’ run saw Amos finish second in London in 2012 to grab a silver medal, a first ever Olympic medal for Botswana. His time of 1:41.73 became the new junior world record.

 

2. Zebras first AFCON finals

Without a shadow of doubt, football’s finest hour arrived in 2012 when the Zebras qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time. The team, given very little chance, managed to progress to the finals which Gabon and Equatorial Guinea co-hosted, surviving a tough group which had Tunisia, Togo and Chad. However, the Zebras exited the group stages winless after defeats to Ghana, Mali and Guinea in what was effectively the group of death.

 

3. Africa Youth Games come to Gaborone

In 2014, Botswana hosted its biggest ever sporting event, the Africa Youth Games which drew 53 countries, 2,500 athletes, 4,000 officials and saw competition in 21 disciplines. It was a seamless event which was preceded by a stunning official opening ceremony at the National Stadium in front of a capacity crowd.

 

4. Zebras reach first ever

COSAFA Cup final

The Zebras cantered to their first ever final when they dismissed guests, the Democratic Republic of Congo 5-4 on penalties in Namibia early this year. However, the Zebras could not lift a first notable piece of silverware after coming unstuck 3-2 against neighbours South Africa in the final.

 

5. Montsho’s golden moment

Amantle Montsho stunned the world in Daegu, South Korea in 2011 when she won the 400m World Championships. The win meant Montsho wore the crown of world 400m champion before she went on to win the All Africa Games gold and the Samsung Diamond League to firmly establish herself as the country’s golden girl.

 

6. Botswana hosts international cricket

The Botswana Cricket Association (BCA) hosted the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Division Seven qualifiers in 2011, where the hosts were joined by Germany, Nigeria, Ghana, Fiji and Vanuatu in the promotion fight.

 

7. Bondo ‘sprints’ across Africa

Joshua ‘Sprinter’ Bondo is arguably the finest whistle man to emerge from Botswana. He has officiated at several international assignments which include the CAF club assignments, AFCON and World Cup qualifiers, African Nations Championships (CHAN) finals and other major junior tournaments. The AFCON finals however, have remained elusive for the Senete native.

 

8. Godisamang scores AFCON first

While focus has been on Joshua Bondo, it was unheralded assistant referee, Oamogetse ‘Two’ Godisamang who became the country’s first official at the AFCON finals when he was chosen to be in the panel for Equatorial Guinea.

 

9. Gino through the ranks

One of Botswana’s finest football exports, Mogogi ‘Gino’ Gabonamong holds a rare record of representing all the national teams and once had trials at Manchester United. He has also played in Trinidad and Tobago, but made his mark while turning out for Santos in South Africa. He recently retired from international football to concentrate on his club, Township Rollers after returning from a lengthy spell in South Africa.

 

9. Thuma makes history

Mompati ‘Apache’ Thuma became the first player to captain the Zebras in the AFCON finals following the historic qualification in 2012. Thuma, a disciplined and ever reliable defender, represented his country with aplomb, belying his gangly frame, and was a recipient of a Presidential award. He retired from football in 2015.

 

10. Makwala owns sprint records

Isaac Makwala holds a rare record of holding all Botswana sprint records, including a one day double in Switzerland in 2014. Regarded as a late bloomer, Makwala has previously held the 400m African record. His 400m time of 43:72 ranks as the seventh best time ever in the world and the second fastest non-American.

 

11. Mamelodi’a astute leadership

Ashford Mamelodi assumed the role of FIFA development officer for the Southern Africa region making him the first Motswana to assume such a demanding role. Mamelodi has vast experience in football administration as he has served as the chief executive officer of the Botswana Football Association (BFA) among others. He is the overseer of all FIFA’ development activities in East and Southern Africa. He is respected within football circles.

 

12. Blatter visits

Joseph Sepp Blatter became the first FIFA president to visit Botswana in 2013. Under his reign, Africa made some gains, particularly through the FIFA Goal Project, which saw the construction of the Lekidi Centre in Botswana.

 

13. Francistown Sports

Complex opens

History was made when the biggest stadium in the country, the Francistown Sports Complex was opened in the second city last year. With a capacity of 26,500, the Francistown Sports Complex was opened in August 2015 and hosted its first ever match, involving the Zebras and Burkina Faso on September 5, 2015.

 

14. Record crowd

A record crowd of 26,662 turned up to watch Zebras play Mali at the Francistown Sports Complex in November 2015, making it the biggest ever attendance for any sport event since 1966. It beat the previous mark of 25,200 set just two months before when the Zebras played and beat Burkina Faso at the same venue.

 

15. Tshosane leaves a mark

Under-rated burly coach, Stanley Tshosane took the nation by surprise when he led the Zebras to their first ever AFCON finals appearance in 2012. Many coaches from far and wide tried albeit without success to achieve the feat, but Tshosane was impressive in qualification, losing only once in six qualifiers. During his reign, the Zebras were deserved winners beating giants, Tunisia twice in the qualifiers.

 

16. Bhamjee’s administrative success

Despite the 2006 World Cup tickets scandal that saw him lose all football posts, Ishmael Bhamjee remains one of Botswana’s football administrators who managed to make to the highest offices in the region and the world. He did not only serve as the president of Botswana Football Association (BFA) but also as the COSAFA president. At the time of the tickets scandal, Bhamjee was a member of FIFA executive committee.

 

17. Bright breaks barrier

One of the most successful local coaches, David Bright will always be remembered as the first Motswana to coach abroad. After assembling what many consider the best Botswana Under-23 side of all time, Bright secured a post at the then South African Premiership side, Cape Town Santos. He also coached Bay United and recently Black Leopards. Bright previously coached the senior national teams after making his name at former giants, Mogoditshane Fighters where he led them to three consecutive league titles.

 

18. Mophuting opens door

for Botswana players in SA

The late Terrence Mophuthing made a name for himself at Gaborone United (GU) before joining South African giants, Kaizer Chiefs. He became the first local player to break into South African league. He later joined Qwaqwa Stars (now Free State Stars) on loan before returning to Botswana to join extension Gunners.

 

19. ECCO first to take

 success across Dibete

Until 2006, no other Premier League side from the northern side of Dibete had ever won the league title. Under the tutelage of Maxwell Moyo, ECCO City Greens, boasting players such as Malepa Bolelang, Abednico Powell, Zecco Makafiri and Tebogo Sembowa among others, re-wrote Botswana’s history books winning the league title for the first time. They still remain the only side from the north to have won the league title.

 

20. Rollers maintain dominance

Township Rollers have been a dominant force in local football for many years and continue to lead both in terms of success on the field as well as off the field. They remain the most successful football team in the country with 12 league titles. They have now also set the bar in terms of enhancing their brand ever since they roped in businessman, Jagdish Shah as a financier.

 

21. Chiefs unbeatable run

Despite Township Rollers’ lengthy dominance, Kgatleng giants, Mochudi Centre Chiefs have been a huge factor since 2006, winning four league titles in the process. But it was in the 2006/2007 season that they did the unthinkable, winning the league title without a single loss, a feat that has not been surpassed.

 

22. Botswana hosts Under-17

championships

Hosting the African Under-17 championships in 1997 will remain one of the country’s biggest achievements. Although the team failed to do well in the tournament, Botswana at the time when facilities and infrastructure were poor, still managed to house seven continental giants. The Young Zebras lost dismally, getting a 7-0 thrashing from Ivory Coast and then lost 2-0 and 2-1 to Egypt and Mali respectively. Egypt went onto to win the tournament.

 

23. Mabiletsa sets the bar for local boxers

France Mabiletsa, now an administrator, made a name for himself when he won the country’s first medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. He won the country a bronze medal.

 

24. Record beMOBILE sponsorship

for Premier League

Following the Munhumutapa saga, cellphone network providers, beMOBILE rescued the situation for the local league when they came on board in 2008. They reached a deal to sponsor the league for a then record P15 million over three seasons. Winners took home P1 million for the first time, a raise from a meagre P120,000. The beMOBILE deal has been improved to P10 million per season.

 

25. Fox sparkles in international games

‘Fox’ as he is affectionately called in the basketball fraternity, Mothusi Phokoje became the first local basketball umpire export. The former Troopers captain defied odds when he was chosen to officiate the South African Basketball National League championships finals last year. Phokoje’s exploits in the neighbouring league did not go unnoticed as he was chosen to officiate in the Austrian League One games, becoming the first local referee/umpire to officiate in the European setup. 

 

26. Branch wins

motocross championships for fifth time

Ross Branch defended his Motocross of Africa (MXoAN) title earlier this year in Kenya, winning it for a record fifth time. The Johannesburg born rider who has been in fine form this year is in pole position to win the Motorsport of South Africa (MSA) championships as he leads the championship with only one round to go. This would make him the first Motswana to win one of the biggest series in the world. Also to be noticed is Atang Makgekgenene who became the first sand master to compete at the event.

 

27. Mantshwabisi becomes part

of Dakar Rally

The Toyota 1000km Desert Race made history in 2013 when it was incepted under the Dakar Rally which is the largest motorsport event in the world. Since its inception in 1981 as the 1000km Kalahari Desert Race, Mantshwabisi has grown tremendously over the years and has proven the most popular sporting event in the country as it has recorded a large crowd of more than 10,000 spectators. The event however became more popular with local crowds in the early 2000s when it was staged at Mantshwabisi village.

 

28. Amanze, Lebotse-Sebego

head regional bodies

The president of Botswana Tennis Association (BTA), Nelson Amanze was voted as the president of the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) development committee earlier this year. Amanze is also the vice president of CAT. Botswana Netball Association president (BONA), Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego was elected the president of the continental body in 2009.

 

29. Netball finishes third at Netball cup 

The national netball team won bronze at the Mission Foods Six Nations Cup held in Singapore recently, the best finish in any international tournaments. Kgomotso Matibini was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the tournament. The Botswana team is one of the few in the country to qualify for the World Cup. Botswana made its World Cup debut in 2007 in New Zealand and in 2011 the team made its second appearance in Singapore.

 

30. Olympic Games qualifiers

Botswana first competed in the Olympic Games in 1980. The country had sent a team of seven athletes but did not win a medal. Ever since then, Botswana has been a regular at the games.

 

31. Mascarenhas’ bowling dominance

Lebogang Mascarenhas remains one of the most decorated bowls players in the country. She remains the highest ranked player in Africa and she is number seven in the World. Mascarenhas started playing international bowls during the 1992 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia. In 2000 she competed in the World Bowls in Australia followed by another edition in England in 2001. She has competed in the World Champion of Champions in different countries over the years. Mascarenhas has five silver medals from African States Tournaments for singles. She won the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) Woman of the Year award in 2006.

 

32. Groth’s karate breakthrough

Khaya Groth’s international breakthrough in karate came in 2006 at the Zone VI tournament that was held in Zimbabwe where he won a gold medal for kata and a bronze for kumite. Groth has been a recipient of BNSC award. He was once rated the continent’s second best junior karateka.

 

33. Softball World Cup debut

The men’s softball team made its World Cup debut in 1984 in the USA. It took the country another 10 years to send the women’s team to the World Cup while the junior men’s team made its bow in 2009. The junior women’s team competed at the World event in 2014.

 

34. BNSC established

The Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), formerly council, has been in existence since 1965 as an independent body, with the Botswana National Football Association (BNFA) as its only member affiliate. As an independent organisation, the BNSC relied on private donors for funding, and largely on the Bechuanaland National Sports Appeal Fund (BENSAF), which was also established in 1965. BENSAF, as the name suggests, was entrusted with raising funds from within the country and internationally, to construct sports facilities and source equipment. It was through donations and self-help initiatives that Botswana’s first National Stadium was completed and officially opened in September 1966.

 

36. Ministry of Sport established

It was in 2007 when the government took a decision to establish the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture. The first minister of sports was Gladys Kokorwe before she handed over to Moeng Pheto. Shaw Kgathi, Vincent Seretse have held the position before incumbent Thapelo Olopeng took over. The establishment of a separate ministry has helped advance sport’s cause.

 

37. Modongo’s chess elevation

Woman International Master (WIM), Boikhutso Modongo is one of Botswana’s senior women chess players who has been performing consistently well since her younger playing days. She has represented Botswana at the Olympiads as far back as 1998. Modongo became a WIM in 2011.

 

38. Walker turns

professional

Alister Walker is a professional squash player who represented Botswana at high level tournaments. He reached a career-high world ranking of World number 12 in September 2009. He is the first Motswana to play professional squash. Walker won the BNSC Sportsman of the Year award in 2013.

 

39. Thebe’s track dominance

Baboloki Thebe is the world’s best 400m junior runner and went to the Rio Olympics this year with the fourth best time of the year. At just 19, Thebe still has many memorable moments ahead if he can shake niggling injuries. Thebe was named BNSC Junior Male Sportsperson for 2014. It was during the BAA national championships where Thebe clocked a personal best of 44.22 in 400m. That mark set the African Under-20 record. He went on to clinch the 200m in 20.21. He claimed the senior African title in Durban with a time of 44.69 in July.

 

40. Sibanda shines in Rio

Karabo Sibanda put up a brave fight at the 2016 Rio Games becoming the youngest, at 18, to reach the finals of the 400m before achieving the same feat with the 4x400m relay team. Sibanda has a lot to celebrate this season despite not making the podium in Rio, having won silver in the men’s 400m at the African Senior Championships in Durban, and gold in the 4x400m where he played a vital role in the race by establishing a strong lead for Botswana. He won silver at the World Junior Championships in Poland.

 

41. Otswetse, the champion coach

Mogomotsi Otsetswe remains one of the coaches that has mentored the best runners in the country. Some of the products are Nigel Amos, Karabo Sibanda and Baboloki Thebe. Otsetswe started coaching in 1990 when he retired from the track. He has done a variety of IAAF coaching courses over the years including sports psychology. Otsetswe is the winner of the BNSC Coach of the Year award 2015.

 

42. Chaba, the volleyball export

Tracy Chaba is the first volleyball player to turn professional. The former Kutlwano player has had an opportunity to play in the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. She is based in Algeria where she continues to shine for her club. Chaba has been a member of the national teams starting with the Under-17 in 2006.

 

43. Smith makes Sunshine Tour debut

Stuart Smith is the first Motswana to play in the Sunshine Tour. He is a former member of Blue Tree golf club in Gaborone before he turned professional. He is currently based in South Africa. During the 2015 edition of the tour, Stuart was ranked in the top 100.

 

44. Dipsy’s illustrous career

Regarded as the finest footballer because of his glittering career, Diphetogo Selolwane became the first Botswana player to play in the American Major Soccer League. He then played in Denmark before he joined South African side, Cape Town Santos before he played for Jomo Cosmos, Ajax Cape Town, Supersport United and the University of Pretoria. This means he became the first Motswana to play in three continents.

 

45. Mongala wins league with

Orlando Pirates

Skillful Phenyo Mongala also made a name for himself in South Africa. He joined Silver Stars (now Platinum Stars) before he went to the University of Pretoria. His exploits there caught the attention of Soweto giants, Orlando Pirates where he went onto to win the league, becoming the first Botswana player to win the South African Premiership title.

 

46. Dube reaches Olympic finals

Glody Dube brought joy to Batswana when he reached the finals of the 800m at the Sydney Olympics. Dube finished race in the 7th position. That did not dampen the spirits of Batswana as they gave him a heroes’s welcome. Dube also qualified for the 2004 Olympics held in Athens, Greece before bowing out at the All Africa Games in Algeria in 2007.

 

47. EMG scores rugby first

Eastern Military Garrison (EMG) Gunners became the first club from the northern part of the country to win the Botswana Rugby Union (BRU) league in 2009. The club which was a BDF outfit was coached by Neal Gouws. The side produced some of the best rugby players in the country who became part of the national team.

 

48. Female whistle blowers

History was made during last season’s beMOBILE Premiership encounter between Gilport Lions and BDF XI as an all female referees’ cast took charge of a Premiership match for the first time in history. Julia Lekgowe was in the centre while Tshepiso Ramothogobeng and Yvonne Letota were her assistants. The trio followed the footsteps of celebrated female referee Glenda Mokoka.

 

49. Moloi most decorated local player

Recently retired Pontsho Moloi has registered his name as the most colourful player in the modern Premiership. Moloi has won the league title five times. He did it once with Notwane before going onto to win it four more times with Mochudi Centre Chiefs as their captain. Mogogi Gabonamong has done it four times, three with Mogoditshane Fighters and recently with Township Rollers.

 

50. Morama wins first Paralympics gold

Tshotego Morama became the first Motswana to win a gold medal in the women’s 400m sprint in the T46 disability category at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece. Her success was received with controversy back home as her gender was scrutinised. The then BNSC chairperson, Dorcas Makgato-Malesu defended the athlete. Morama also has a gold medal under her name from the 2007 All Africa Games, setting a new African record in the women’s 200m.