Cycling team off to Olympic qualifiers
Botswana’s national cycling team is set to participate in the Confederation of African Cycling (CAC) MTB Championships in Johannesburg, South Africa from 3rd to 4th June 2023. The Championships are a qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and the Botswana Cycling Association is excited to announce its team for the event.
The final team comprises of five athletes and two officials. Lobopo Kono will represent the Female Under 23 category, while Gontse Lethokwe, Sandile Slave-Mpelo, and Thato Madimabe will compete in the Elite category. Karabo Moletsane will serve as the coach, and Saviour Matlhakankanyane will act as the team mechanic.
Unfortunately, Lebopo Mompe and Kato Ramahobo, who were initially selected for the games, could not make the trip due to logistical challenges. Nonetheless, the Botswana Cycling Association is confident that the selected team will perform well and represent the country with pride.
The Association President, Kagiso Potongwane said that the participation in major games like the CAC MTB Championships provides athletes with the opportunity to gain more points based on their performance
“These points assist them in improving their rankings as individuals and for the country.” The more active our athletes are in such competitions, the better their performance will be in future competitions, and the more experience they will gain. He added that the Botswana Cycling Association’s objective is to see the athletes competing well and doing their best without any pressure in the form of targets.
“The athletes’ selection is based on their consistency in local competitions, and the Association believes that the exposure to such events will be good for their overall development.” While the invitation and confirmation of the games were announced late, the selected athletes have been active in local competitions.
The Association expects the athletes to
learn from the experience and use it to improve their performance as part of their development process, according to Potongwane.
The team left for Johannesburg on Tuesday, 30th May 2023 and the Botswana Cycling Association hopes for a successful outing at the CAC MTB Championships.