Chetelo misses nwyc

An ankle injury robbed local Netball Umpire Abednico Chetelo an opportunity to officiate at the just ended Netball World Youth Cup (NWYC) games recently held in Gaborone. Speaking to Sun Sports recently, Chetelo said he sustained the injury a few days before the international showpiece began.

The experienced netball official was on duty in Kampala, Uganda. I was officiating in Uganda where the local senior netball team was competing with other countries for the Africa Cup,” he said. “I had a muscle strain under my foot and made it hard for me to run, but as a netball umpire, running goes without saying. It was very painful and I feared that if not careful it will rapture, thus I was forced to withdraw from officiating at the NWYC,” he explained. Following intense medical assessment, Chetelo was declared unfit and was advised to stay out of action for the next two months or so in order to allow his foot to heal. The decision was also supported by the International Netball Federation (INF) and upon arrival back into the country, he was instructed to remain on camp with other officials. Nevertheless he has assured that he is getting better even though his foot is still a bit sore. “Sports is very unpredictable, I got injured while on duty and even though I missed out on a lifetime opportunity, there is always tomorrow.”

The disappointed Chetelo was on the verge of breaking the national record by becoming the first Motswana to officiate at the World Netball Cup. Before the unforeseen injury disrupted his plans, he was aiming to actively play a role in building the legacy left behind by the hosting of the World Youth games for the first time in Africa. Quizzed as to why the information was not shared earlier with the local community, Chetelo said only the INF was in a position to explain what was going on and they were not allowed to divulge any information at that stage. However, he assured that there are official documents supporting his case as to why he did not participate during the world Cup. Meanwhile Botswana Netball Association (BONA) President Tebogo Lebotse- Sebego distanced herself from the matter and said only the INF can comment on the matter and not her. “I will send you the INF’s email, they are in a better position to answer that question not me.”