Botswana kick starts her Independence Diamond Jubilee at World Athletics Relays

Sunday Standard Botswana kick starts her Independence Diamond Jubilee at World Athletics Relays On September 30th this year, Botswana will celebrate her Independence Diamond Jubilee. As part of the pre-Independence celebrations, the country will host the World Athletics Relays. This event, one of World Athletics’ flagship events, will be hosted here in Gaborone this coming weekend, on the 02nd and 03rd May 2026. It will be the first time this event is hosted in Africa, a proud moment for the country and the continent. With the eyes of the whole world fixed on her, this event affords Botswana to showcase her diamond splendor and sporting talent. In line with her image as the diamond nation of the world, Botswana has crafted some rare diamond crusted medals for the relays. And as one would expect, a palpable air of optimism surrounds team Botswana ahead of the relays. Competing on home soil in one of the grandest athletics’ stages, the country’s relay teams are ready to get the celebrations going. Team Manager Moshe Gochela says the morale is high within the team camp ahead of the relays. “Everything is going well within the team camp so far. As you may have heard from some team members in media interviews yesterday, the athletes are ready to give their all and make the country proud.” The team manager says preparations have gone according to plan. This past Thursday, the team arrived back in Gaborone from Letlhakane where they had held a week-long training camp. The camp was essential for team building and getting the relays basics right. On Sunday, some members of the team will compete at the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix. The event, which has attracted the interest of many international athletes, will give the coaches a glimpse at the condition of the athletes before entering the critical phase of preparations on Monday. Whatever happens at the weekend, head coach Mogomotsi Otsetswe is optimistic the team will make the country proud at the Gaborone 26 World Athletics Relays. “I believe our athletes will give Batswana something to celebrate about for the next coming months,” the coach says. He says their preparations have shown that the country’s athletic teams ‘are almost on par with the best in the world.’ As such, Batswana should expect some exhilarating performances from the team. “The competition is high within the team itself. Everyone wants to be in the start list. Each and every one of them wants to make the country proud.” While no medal targets have been set, Batswana would expect at least one or more quality medals to accompany the team performances. But this is easier said than done. The competition for the diamond embedded medals is expected to be tough. Most teams, with the exception of one or two, have sent their best athletes. In the men’s 4x400m relay, where Botswana is a dominant player, signs are they will not have it easy. In their way stands the defending champions South Africa and silver medalists Belgium.  The formidable South African quartet of Gardeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, Leendret Koekemoer and Zakithi Nene, which won the men’s 4x400m gold at the Guangzhou 2025 World Athletics Relays will be back to defend their title. Now, they will also have the talented Lythe Pillay in the mix to boost their crown. As for Belgium, only two members of the final team which won silver are back. But they have also boosted their team with other talents as they bid to go for gold. That being that, Botswana will not fret. The entire team of Lee Eppie, Justice Oratile, Kabo Rankgwe and Leungo Scotch, which won bronze at the last relays has been retained. Now they will be joined by key team members Bayapo Ndori and Collen Kebinatshipi. The return of this duo makes Botswana men’s 4x400m team a force to contend with at the relays. Elsewhere, Letsile Tebogo, who has been a key member of the 4x400m relay team will lead the country’s 4x100m men’s relay in its quest to fight for medals. At the past relays, the team, which was composed of Karabo Mothibi, Larona Mayana, Kevin Lobatlamang and Tumo van Wyk bowed out in the heats, albeit having set a new national record. From that team, only Lobatlamang remains. Tebogo aside, new members of the team include Jayson Mandoze, Price Phaezel Selepe, Thuto Masasa and Thapelo Monaiwa. Tebogo’s addition, with that of the others, is expected to give the local 4x100m men’s relay team a little kicker. Their addition is expected to help the country break the national record as well as progress to the finals.  What happens from then on, no one can predict. World Relays men’s 4x100m relay defending champions South Africa have brought almost all the entire team which lined up in the finals last year. Bayanda Walaza is the only athlete missing from a team that was also made up of Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana and the evergreen Akani Simbine. Last year’s relays bronze medalists Canada have also brought the entire team which did duty to represent them this year. Elsewhere, there is the much-feared Jamaica. This year, the Caribbean Islanders have brought their biggest guns in all the relay categories. The likes of Ackeem Blake, Oblique Seville and Kishane Thompson are in the mix. Despite the formidable competition, Otsetswe is optimistic that whatever happens, Batswana will be happy. “We want to compete in all the categories at the relays. All our teams, both men and ladies are looking forward to this event. Batswana must come and see these athletes make them proud.”  The post Botswana kick starts her Independence Diamond Jubilee at World Athletics Relays first appeared on Sunday Standard and is written by Botlhale Koothupile