Athletics massage therapist dropped
There is tension between the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) and the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) after athletics massage therapist, Kabo Molefhe was dropped from the Olympics team. Two physiotherapists, Onalenna Kenosi and Sithabile Machao are now in charge of the team.
According to information reaching Mmegi Sport, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) medical committee’s idea was to increase the number of physiotherapists and not to drop the massage therapist.
“Athletics was complaining that their athletes are prone to injuries and it would be better if the massage therapist was supported by physiotherapists.
They wanted more physiotherapists. Molefhe has always been with the team,” a source said.
The source further said Molefhe was included in the Olympics’ long list. BAA vice president, Oabona Theetso said the issue is not Molefhe but questions are on why the BNOC takes people who have never worked with athletes before while on camp. “Personally, I think BNOC has a big brother attitude. They like dictating terms to us. Molefhe has been with the team and working with it, so he knows the needs of each athlete. Leaving him out could be disastrous but we pray that all goes well,” Theetso said. He explained they have long submitted Molefhe’s name when they made the long list and he has been with the team before the first lockdown last year.
Theetso said the two physiotherapists who left with the team have never worked with the team and they just appeared now. Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairperson, Moses Moruisi told Mmegi Sport they have not changed the massage therapist.
“There was a long list for the Olympics. Unfortunately, the therapist you are talking about joined the team late and was not included in the long list. He missed other processes that could have enabled him to be accredited and travel with the team. You should understand that masseur works under the direction of the physiotherapist. A physiotherapist must also be able to massage athletes,” he said.
Moruisi said a physiotherapist has been trained to deal with injuries. He also added that a physiotherapist could do the job of the masseur.
“It is like killing two birds with one stone because the physiotherapist would be able to massage and monitor injuries.
When you have a physiotherapist, you have covered the job of the masseur,” Moruisi said.
In his response, Theetso said Moruisi should be truthful.
“Leadership and being untruthful are like water and oil. I expect better from him. Molefhe has been with the team since 2020 when we started camp,” Theetso hit back.
Meanwhile, athletics team manager Raymond Phale travelled to Tokyo without an assistant.
Moruisi explained that they received the list from Botswana Athletics Association (BAA). He said they had requested the association to submit the list. The team does not have a woman in management.
“That is also guided by the number of athletes who have qualified. With time we hope to overcome that challenge and we would be able to bring more women when more women have qualified. However, when it comes to the health professionals in the Olympics team, we appointed women,” Moruisi said.