BAA beckons to Amantle Montsho
The star athlete retired from active sports last week
One of Botswana’s most celebrated women in sports and one of the best in the African continent, Amantle Nkape ( Montsho) last week announced her retirement from athletics. Having represented the country with distinction during her illustrious career, spanning over a decade, one may be wondering, how the local athletics mother- body will keep her in the streams of their operations.
There has been an outcry by some local legends, as they feel left out by their respectful sporting codes once they retire, their experience and expertise are more often than not left unutilized.
Botswana Athletics Association ( BAA) have left the door open for Montsho to come through and serve in the area of her choice.
BAA vice President, Oabona Theetso thanked Montsho for her services in representing the country and said they will be ready to assist and work with her to enhance local athletics development.
“As BAA , we’ll always hold her in high regard, but in terms of what we will do for her, we are hoping that she will provide us with her future plans and as BAA we are committing ourselves to support her and not only her but other athletes who will retire in the future,” Theetso explained.
He further recommended that the 38 year old could venture into coaching as there is a great challenge to produce female athletics coaches in the country.
“Ordinarily, we would love to keep her in our spectrum, currently athletics women coaches are scarce, our senior national team and junior teams are coached by men, it will be very much important that she takes part in coaching; I’d personally advise her to enrol in coaching. She has worked with the best coaches over the years and I think it’ll be easy for her to work with young female athletes as it is currently proving to be a challenge to retain the girl child athletes. But we will take the lead from her, and whatever she decides, we will support her,” BAA Vice President shared.
For her part, Montsho, who started running professionally in 2003 at the All Africa Games and went on to become the first woman to represent Bo
tswana at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, was coy to divulge any information on her future plans.
“My management can answer those but we have big plans that will be unveiled soon. I think I can be a commentator ( laughs); The Nation should expect a lot from me, my management team will reveal it with time. I will be updating them, they should be on the lookout for my Facebook page Amantle Montsho’s Golden Retirement.” She said.
Montsho engaged a management company called House 1957 media, which has a team of youth, including women who are passionate about ensuring that the Amantle Montsho brand lives forever.
“They are ensuring that my legacy lives on and rest assured that I am in good hands from now on,” Montsho stated.
Montsho further revealed that it was not a difficult decision for her to retire.
“It was easy because I already made up my mind and I was tired. I should have retired in 2018; however, I was asked to wait. As you know, I didn’t do well this year, so this has come to show me that age has caught up,” She said.
In conclusion, Montsho advised that BAA should scout for talent in different parts of the country such as in the Ngamiland area to enhance development. She also thanked Batswana for their support in good and during difficult times, adding that, “there is no Amantle Montsho without the people.”