No medal ceremony

“Yes, team Botswana 4x400m men and 4x400m women teams have not received their medals. We have engaged with the LOC and it has been agreed that the medals will be shipped to Botswana once they have been prepared. It seems to us that there was a shortage of medals and this is why all teams, even from other countries (gold, silver and bronze) in these events did not receive their medals,” he said.

Botswana men’s 4x400m relay team has been dethroned as African champions. The team comprising Collen Kebinatshipi, Leungo Scotch, Boitumelo Masilo and Bayapo Ndori settled for the second position stopping the clock in 2.59.32 to bring home silver medal and increased the number of medals the country won at the Games to 13. The Zambians anchored by the flying Muzala Samukonga stole Botswana’s victory on the finish line, with a blistering speed to set new African Games record of 2.59.12. The bronze medal went to Nigeria after registering a time of 3.01.84. During the semi-final, Botswana team easily sailed through posting a season’s best (SB) of 3.05.44. The win brought so much joy to the nation and there was hope that they would be able to defend their title. Head coach, Thatayaone Lefatshe, made some changes to the team during the final, taking out Omphile Seribe, replacing him with Masilo, giving Kebinatshipi the responsibility of being the first leg, Scotch switched from the anchor in the final to third leg. Ndori anchored the team in the final. The women’s 4x400m relay team finished in third position for a bronze medal with a time of 3.33.44 with Zambia claiming a silver medal and setting a national record (NR) in 3.31.85 and Nigeria continued with their brilliant performance in relays, becoming champions in a time of 3.27.29. Botswana had