You Lenan and our boys have been amazing supporters for me. You have supported me from day one, 27 years ago when I met you. You are the drive behind this passion and dedication I have for our sport,” Dipeba said. Dipeba said his wife is always by his side, holding his hand to make sure that he is collected and balanced. The national athletics coach was honoured by University of Botswana Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation on Friday. The department recognised him for the sterling job of guiding the men’s 4x400m relay team to a bronze medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Coach JD as he commonly known in athletics, also said the department is his family and he is able to do what he does because of their support. “When I am not here, you make sure that you cover for me and do all the duties I was supposed to do. We help each other grow not only in sport. You are the department of the year,” he said.
Dipeba said people like Raj Rathedi always engage him when he is on national team duties. He said UB's contribution to his success is by far unmeasurable. Dipeba said there is no single day that the UB does not support him to serve the nation. “The second fastest man in Africa, 10th fastest man of all time and Olympic bronze medalist and coached by UB employee trains here,” Dipeba said. UB Sport and Recreation director, Rathedi said it is not everyone who gets an opportunity to coach at the Olympics.
He said they always encourage their members to follow their passion.
He said Dipeba is lucky because he has a supportive department. “The university does a lot for this country. When people meet Dipeba most of them do not know that he comes from the University of Botswana. To JD we just wanted to say thank you as a department,” Rathedi said.
