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Team Botswana Chef De Mission in the just concluded Rio Olympic Games, Moses Moruisi, says they had selected an injury free team for the international sport showpiece.

Speaking to Sun Sports shortly after Team Botswana landed at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport on Tuesday, Moruisi said the athletes suffered injuries during the Olympic games.“We took a fit team to Rio, the injuries were sudden and unexpected.

I cannot say we went to Rio with injuries. Baboloki Thebe competed at the world Junior championships and he participated in all of the events until the relay,” said Moruisi.

“When we got to Rio there was concern that he had a muscle problem. We even inquired for assistance from the Nike physiotherapist before his race. After the race we learnt that he cannot compete any longer.” Moruisi explained that one of the key athletes Nijel Amos also had a hamstring injury between training and the preliminary heat events.

Nevertheless, Moruisi did not take anything away from the team. “Overall this was a very good and impressive performance bearing in mind that we had two juniors who demonstrated through their race times that they are improving drastically.”  Moruisi appealed for “perfect structures” to be put in place to help the athletes improve in future and that the young athletes should continue to compete at the Junior championships and avoid intense major events.

“Looking at the number of competitions they have competed at this year, I think we should not allow them to participate in the Diamond League since they had a long season.” Meanwhile Team Botswana received a warm reception in Gaborone despite failing to bring home any medal.

Local diehard fans showed support with chanting and ululations reverberating from the airport. However, when the team touched down in Gaborone around lunchtime it was without four of their compatriots -Naomi Ruele (swimming), Given Bogopa (Judo), Isaac Makwala (track) and David van de Colff (swimming).
Moruisi said he expected the athletes to land safely soon after. “It was difficult to get their (athletes) tickets.

There were a lot of teams in Rio so we had a problem to get out of the city as they were struggling to get tickets,” he said. Moruisi said that the prize money dangled before the athletes had a positive impact on their performance at the games, adding that such a gesture did not put any pressure on them. “A life of an athlete is based on prize money, every medal has a prize even the Nike contracts have a price for each achievement.

The International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF) awards athletes with up to 100 000 US dollars for record breaking performances. This is part and parcel of the trade so our own should get used to it as it is embedded in athletics.”