SCOTCH WINS BIG AT BNSC AWARDS
Local 400m runner Leungo Scotch won two significant awards in the local sports scene over the weekend at the Botswana National Sports Commission( BNSC) awards which were held in Gaborone at the Btv auditorium. Scotch won the sportsperson and sportsman of the year accolades following his impressive display during the 2019 season beating his arch rival Rajab Otukile of boxing in the sportsman of the year category.
For all his 2019 exploits which include amongst others two gold from Africa Games, silver medal from Botswana Athletics Association( BAA) national championships as well as a semi final finish at the World Championships , Scotch was bestowed with the sportsperson of the year award. An award which does not have nominees but given to the best performing athlete from all the winners or nominees of the award ceremony. For his winnings Scotch walked away with P100 000 courtesy of Debswana for the biggest award of the night as well as an additional P50 000 for sportsman of the year award.
“I'm really happy about myself winning these awards. Honestly speaking I didn’t expect that I will win anything any time soon so it came at an unexpected time. From now on I really want to do more especially internationally, I wanna bring more medals home,” said the 24 year old Scotch.
The Kareng native started doing athletics at Ngami Junior Secondary School as a student under a certain teacher coach by the name Innocent Sidanda. His participation in athletics continued at Maun Senior Secondary School under the guidance of a certain Mr Ndolo, Mr Mmipi and Odirile Sibanda. Whilst doing form three he ran a sub 46 seconds and qualified for World Junior Championships. In 2014 he represented the country at World Junior Championships at Eugene, USA which was the opening chapter of his journey in local athletics. Post that he grew up through the ranks of BAA but his major breakthrough in national colours was his first major competition medal in 2019 when he was crowned an African Champion in 400m. His relay team also won gold medal at the same Africa Games which were held at Rabat, Morocco. Following his splendid continental performance he also went on to make his first ever appearance at World Athletics Championships at Doha, Qatar where he finished in the semi finals.