Setshego competes in Spain

Rising karate star Thabang Setshego departed for the World Karate Championships that are expected to start this week in Spain. However, the sensational Kumite athlete almost missed it following a decision by the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) not to fund any athlete over 18 years old.

In an interview this week, Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) president Tshepo Bathai said the World Championships are used as qualifiers for the 2018 Youth Olympics and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. BNOC as sponsors advised BOKA to send only those athletes who will be able to participate at the 2018 Youth Olympics (The under 18).

This saw the BOKA assembled national team including Setshego, Tlotlang Ponatshego, Wathuto Maake and Gaone Mothoyomotona dropped a day before the scheduled departure date. Nevertheless, the talented Setshego felt that missing the championships would be a great blow to his career, so he decided to utilise his BNSC Zebra Fund to compete at the World championships. Speaking to Sun Sports shortly before jetting off to Spain yesterday he explained that missing the tournament was not an option for him.

He had to go and leave an impressive mark at the international stage. He was the only Motswana who represented the country in 2015. “ I am determined to close my under 21 category in style,” Setshego said. The young Setshego will be joining 16-year-old Mohammed Hussain who is reported to have took advantage of the BNOC fund and left for Spain on Saturday. This means Botswana will be pinning her hopes on the two athletes at the world event. The team is accompanied by Christopher Ponatshego as head coach and Phineas Motseolapile is the manager.