Athletes conspicuously missing
Local athletes were surprisingly missing at the Gaborone International Meet (GIM) athletes press conference held ahead of the track and field competition that took place this past weekend in Gaborone. The only local and top athlete present was 400m runner Baboloki Thebe at the event meant to give athletes a chance to discuss with the media their preparations ahead of the annual meet. It would prove even more embarrassing and disappointing when other participating nations that had been reported to have already arrived in Botswana did not show up either. It was also at that time during the press conference, that one of the GIM returning sponsors Mascom, through its representative Tirelo Kooagile mentioned that he was actually seeing Thebe for the first time. He said that the star athlete was actually taller in person as he has only seen him on television. It would even turn more awkward later that evening during the sponsors night meant to recognize and appreciate all who had contributed to the success of the 2019 meet, none of the local athletes were present but only a few athletes from the likes of Nigeria, Malawi and Lesotho managed to grace the event. Botswana had over 200 athletes participating at the 2019 edition of GIM. The Meet Director, Glody Dube was quick to take the blame for it all, saying it was actually neglect from their side. Though they had sent out invitation to athletes, they did not arrange with athletes properly in terms of transport and other logistics. Dube explained that the few foreign athletes that managed to attend the press conference and the sponsor’s night were accommodated at Oasis motel, which happened to be the venue for the two separate events. “Zambia, for instance is housed at the other end of town and I believe they found it difficult to travel this side,” Dube said. As for the absence of local top stars such as Onkabetse Nkobolo, Isaac Makwala, Christine Botlogetswe and Galefele Moroko among others, Dube said that there was no proper arrangement made for them to attend the event either. He added that it might have also proved difficult for them to attend because an athlete requires lots of rest a day before competition. “We will look into the matter going forward so as we do not find ourselves embarrassed or inconveniencing athletes,” Dube noted.