Baa Focuses On Squad Depth to Secure Legacy

Botswana Athletics Association Focuses on Building Squad Depth

The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) is working to develop a deeper pool of talent to reduce the country’s reliance on a small group of elite runners. For years, athletes such as Letsile Tebogo, Collen Kebinatshipi, and Bayapo Ndori have achieved international success, but the national team’s performance at the recent Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games highlighted the need for a broader talent base.

According to sports stakeholders, a steady pipeline of developmental talent is essential to support top-tier athletes and ensure the long-term success of the sport. Without a sustainable development framework, the current era of success in local sprinting may be remembered as an isolated phenomenon rather than an institutional legacy.

BAA Sport Development Manager Patrick Moesi confirmed that the association is systematically expanding its athlete pool for future international assignments. At the Commonwealth Games, several athletes from the newly established development bracket were given the opportunity to compete at an elite level. Moesi stated, “While we would have loved to win a medal, our primary mission was to give upcoming athletes the chance to compete at an international level. The roots of development are bitter, but the fruits are sweet.”

Although the team did not win any medals, Moesi emphasized that the BAA is encouraged by the competitive spirit of its emerging talent. Several athletes, including Prince Selepe, Tshepiso Masalela, Bhekimpilo Eppie, Oratile Nowe, and Obakeng Kamberuka, qualified for the finals in their respective events. Notably, 20-year-old Selepe finished eighth in the men’s 200m final with a time of 20.31 seconds in the semifinals, while Kamberuka placed eighth in the women’s 400m final with a time of 52.53 seconds.

The BAA is now focusing on refining these secondary-tier prospects ahead of upcoming regional events. The association hopes that exposing junior runners to global pressure will yield sustainable results, particularly as Botswana prepares to host the African Senior Athletics Championships in Gaborone. Moesi noted that a selection of junior athletes is currently competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon. In the absence of school sports, the BAA is planning to organize regional competitions to identify raw talent across the country.

Article source: allafrica.com | Image credit: DailyNews