Coca Cola engages World Cup fans

Track and field enthusiasts who may be wondering where the next Isaac Makwala or Nijel Amos will come from should look no further than 17-year-old runner Letsile Tebogo.

The Gaborone West Junior Secondary school student has already cleaned up the local track and field circle with an impressive medal haul dating back to 2010 when he was a primary school student at Lefhoko.

Tebogo, who is currently in camp for the Confederation of School Sports Association in Southern Africa (COSSASA), dominated in the 2018 Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) nationals when he secured two gold medals for 200m and 4x100m relay. Tebogo did one better and secured silver in the intensive 100m.

As a young man the Kanye born track and field protégé tried at many sporting activities when he was growing up. Tebogo’s preferred sport was football but he ended up excelling in athletics.  “We didn't take him seriously even when he brought home medals and certificates until he qualified for BOPSSA nationals held in Molepolole in 2016.

The runner’s biggest moment came along when he qualified for COSSASA games held in Namibia back in 2016. That was when the family started rallying behind him by attending all his appearances locally and regionally, “the athlete’s mother Seratiwa Tebogo said this week.

However, it is not by accident that the young Tebogo ended up as a top runner as his doting mother, a former marathon runner took the young boy along when she competed. Tebogo excelled from a tender age after one of his teachers discovered his gifts at Philip Mosotle Primary School. The talented youngster was later introduced to the National team coach Mogomotsi Otsetswe who has since taken him under his wing.