Branch, Tebogo and batter, Motlhanka will go up against each other in a tight contest for the award. The three local athletes had an impressive 2022-2023 period in their respective disciplines. With just a day before the glamourous event, Tebogo is the favourite to take the award home for the second consecutive time.
The 20-year-old bagged two medals at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary. He broke the national 100m record with 9.88 seconds after finishing second at the championships. Tebogo also managed a bronze medal in the 200m with a 19.81 finish. The Kanye-lad had run 19.50 in the 200m at the London Diamond League earlier.
‘The Kalahari Ferrari’, as Branch is affectionately called, is vying for his first Sportsman of the Year accolade. He is improving by the season and would look at the 2023 season with pride. Branch bagged two stage wins at the biggest motorsport race, the Dakar Rally in 2023. He was unfortunate to finish 26th in the race as he increased his stage wins to three at the time. The Jwaneng-biker attained his highest finish and also the best by any local biker as he finished fourth in the 2023 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Branch also returned to the local shores to clinch the popular, 1000km Toyota Desert Race title.
The Botswana Cricket Association (BCA) is vying for a first in the category with Baggy Blues' captain, Motlhanka. The 32-year-old made his first-class debut with Matebeleland Tuskers in the Logan Cup in Zimbabwe. It was an impressive performance for the local lad as he etched his name in the annals of history.
The Sportswomen of the Year has a few surprises. Football is represented through Mares' forward, Refilwe Tholakele, who is nominated alongside, karateka, Lesego Masimola, and 400m sprinter, Oratile Nowe. Tennis' rising star, Denzel Seetso and 400m sensation, Collen Kebinatshipi are vying for the Junior Sportsman of the Year alongside Kao Nsala of Karate. Tickets for the awards ceremony are selling at P750 for a single and P7, 000 for a table of 10.
Full list of awards nominees
Sportsman of the Year Ross Branch (Motorsport), Letsile Tebogo (Athletics), Karabo Motlhanka (Cricket)
Sportswoman of the Year Refilwe Tholakele (Football), Lesego Masimola (Karate), Oratile Nowe (Athletics)
Junior Sportsman of the Year Kao Nsala (Karate), Collen Kebinatshipi (Athletics), Denzel Seetso (Tennis)
Junior Sportswoman of the Year Neo Nogampe (Judo), Sethunya Majama (Athletics), Natalie Banda (Chess)
Team of the Year Lawn Bowl Women's Team (Bowling), Men's U-20 4x400m Relay Team (Athletics), Men Kata team (Karate)
Coach of the Year Gasegarona Pabalelo (Bowling), Kebonyemodisa Dose Mosimanyane (Athletics), Keletso Tshukudu (Special Olympics)
Umpire/Referee of the Year Ritah Sebele (Table-tennis), Emmanuel Kgaboetsile (Badminton), Dorothy Okatch (Basketball)
Sport Administrator of the Year Rossyln Tebele (Special Olympics), Moses Bantsi (Athletics), Kudzanani Motswagole (Table-tennis)
National Sport Association of the Year Botswana Tennis, Botswana Athletics, Botswana Table Tennis
Non-Citizen of the Year William Rene Matike Ndoumbe (Judo), Gladys Njoroge (Taekwando), Sumod Damodar (Cricket)
