Nkobolo complains of neglect
“I just want to take this moment to thank each and everyone of you for your support, love and being kind especially my family and my girlfriend.” He went further and said:“when you do well in sport everyone is behind you and wants to form friendships even CEOs. “When you are down everyone supports you for three weeks to a month, after that everyone forgets you and it seems like you never existed despite having lifted the nation’s flag high,” a clearly incensed Nkobolo wrote. Further, he urged fellow sportsmen to invest in business that will generate income for them once so that once they are injured they will have something to sustain themselves.
Reached for comment, Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) Vice President Administration Theetso Oabona said he could not comment on the utterances made by the distraught athlete.
“He didn’t mention the Association anywhere so I am not in a position to comment on the matter. I am not sure if he is addressing his family, friends, BAA, BNSC, BNOC or even the Ministry.” Quizzed on how the BAA assisted the athlete during the trying times, Theetso said they have organized a physical trainer to help with the recovery of the runner.
The athlete is currently on the BNOC elite scholarship and Theetso is not aware of what happened with the scholarship.“The BNOC can answer and explain if they are still supporting him and if not why,” he stressed. Reached for comment, acting Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) Chief Executive Officer Wedu Motswetla said Nkobolo’s elite scholarship ended in October and due to his injury the sponsorship couldn’t be renewed. She said through the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) they have managed to assist the athlete with $750 from October until December while they are still looking at other places where they can source funds to assist him. “We have assisted the athlete with a physiotherapist, he goes to Botswana Defense Force (BDF) for his rehabilitation which is funded by the BNOC, we are still going to try to assist him going forward,” she assured.