Tebogo set a new African Record at the London Diamond Meet clocking 19.50 in the men’s 200m on Sunday. He also ran a personal best (PB) and set a new national record.
Tebogo is also the men’s 100m national record holder at 9.91. The previous 200m national record stood at 19.96 set by Isaac Makwala in 2015. The BNSC CEO, Tuelo Serufho told Mmegi Sport that the current Performance Incentives and Rewards Package does not cover the record set by Tebogo.
“The policy only caters for records set at Olympics, Commonwealth Games, AFCON finals, Africa Games, World single sport competitions, Africa single sport competitions, and regional single sport competitions.
It is a valid record but the policy does not cover it,” he said. Serufho said the BNSC is engaging the private sector to find a way to reward Tebogo. “This is a government policy and it is up to the Cabinet to review it. But we are hopeful that the policy will be reviewed soon,” he said. "It is a government thing; it is for them to decide. Cabinet will (have to) adjust the policy,” he added. The BAA president, Moses Bantsi told Mmegi Sport that it is shocking to learn that Tebogo will not benefit from the government's incentive policy.
He said what is even more surprising is that the record is valid and "there are no two ways about it." “A record is a record, it does not matter where it is set. The Diamond League meet is a recognised competition and I believe it falls under the World singles sport competition. The athlete should benefit,” he said. Bantsi said the procedure is for the BAA to apply for the athlete to be paid from the BNSC but the way things are going, they feel demoralised to proceed with the application.
“We always tell our athletes to do their best but it is disappointing the way things are going. Where do they want our athletes to compete?” he wondered. Meanwhile, back in 2021, the BNSC under the old Performance Incentives and Rewards package rejected the BAA’s application when Makwala set Africa records in 2014 and 2015 respectively in Switzerland. He recorded 44.01 in the 400m while in the 200m, Makwala stopped the clock at 19.96. In the past few days, Tebogo was a busy man on the track. He started his dominance at the Lignano Sabbiadoro Meet, bettering his previous personal best of 46.09s, when he ran 44.75s in the men’s 400m on July 14.
He then shifted his focus to the Diamond League circuit Monaco edition on July 21, where he gave Ferdinand Omanyala stiff competition in the men’s 100m. Tebogo ran 9.93s, which is his season’s best (SB). Tebogo is now the sixth fastest man in history over the 200m dash. Tebogo is gearing up for his debut appearance in the senior category at World Athletics Championships which kicks off on August 19 in Budapest. Tebogo is at the peak of his career and is capable of registering a podium finish on his debut. The 20-year-old has so far accumulated 18 points in the 100m from the Diamond League races and 15 points in the 200m.
