KING OF 2020 BOTSWANA SPORTS AWARDS, SCOTCH OR RAJAB?
BY: Katlego Mechedi
The young sportsmen, sensational boxer Rajab Otukile Mahommed, and the 400m sprinter, Leungo Scotch find themselves battling for the biggest award of the sportsman of the year in which the Botswana Sports Awards ceremony will be held on the 21st of November 2020 at Ba Isago Convention Center.SPORTSNATION`s Katlego Mechedi writes.
TALKING POINTS
- The due had a results-oriented year
- The category will be contested by only two individuals
- The reigning Sportsman of the year Baboloki Thebe snubbed
BOTSWANA SPORTS AWARDS SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR 2019, INTERESTING!
The duo comes to blows for the biggest Botswana sports award after having a fruitful 2019.
Sportsman of the Year accolade will be an interesting one as there will only be two individuals battling for the highly contested award, but not the usual three.
More interestingly, it will be without the defending champion, Baboloki Thebe who had a poor 2019 owing to road accident controversies.
Among the surprises of the 40th Botswana sports awards is Leungo Scotch seeing himself being nominated for the first time in the biggest award of the night.
LEUNGO SCOTCH NOMINATED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Scotch found his spot in the nomination after having a great year in 2019. The 24-year-old attained a gold medal at the 2019 African Champions held at Morocco setting his new personal best record of 45.27s and qualifying for Doha and Tokyo 2021 respectively.
The youthful sprinter was also part of the 4X400m relay team that scooped a gold medal at the International meet held at Manchester, England. Moreover, the team won gold at African games held at Rabat, Morocco.
The 4X400m relay team is among the nominees for the national team of the year and it is looking to defend their title.
It will not be an easy one for Scotch as Mafika Boxing Club 52kg boxer, Mahomed Rajab Otukile, who was a nominee on the 38th Botswana sports awards find himself contending for the prestigious award again.
RAJAB MAHOMMED OTUKILE NOT NEW IN THE CATEGORY
Rajab made wonders last year as he grabbed a gold medal in the flyweight category at the African games held in Morocco becoming an African boxing champion.
He is a national champion and has always been nominated for local boxing awards winning left, right, and center including Botswana National Sports Commission’s Sports award’s young male promising athlete of the year from 2013 to 2015. Fast forward he is competing for the biggest award.
Moreover, he was voted boxer of the tournament at AFBC Zone IV Boxing Championship after matching away with the gold.
It remains to be seen who will walk away with the prestigious award now only time will tell.
40TH BOTSWANA SPORTS AWARDS NOMINEES
Junior Female Sportsperson of the year
• Karabo Kula -Taekwondo
• Refilwe Gabatshwane -Chess
• Boitshepo Kelapile -Athletics
Junior Male Sportsperson of the Year
• Maxwell Sechi -Boxing
• Bernard Olesitse -Athletics
• Denzel Seetso -Tennis
Sports Administrator of the Year
• Thato M. Patlakwe (President BoBA) -Boxing
• Roslyn Tebele – Special Olympics Botswana
• Mothokomedi Thabano (President BCF) -Chess
Non-Citizens Sports Award
• Sumod Damodar (Secretary –BCA) -Cricket
• Vinay Naicker (President) -Taekwondo
• Mervyn Mitchell – Treasurer -Bowling
National Team of the Year
• Women National Team – Lawn Bowls
• Ladies Volleyball Team – Special Olympics
• Men 4 X 400m Relay -Athletics
National Sport Association (NSA) of the Year
• Botswana Chess Federation
• Botswana Cricket Association
• Botswana Boxing Association
Sportswoman of the Year
• Keamogetse S. Kenosi – Boxing
• Marea Modutlwa – Bowling
• Galefele Moroko – Athletics (400m)
Sportsman of the Year
• Leungo Scotch -Athletics (400m)
• Rajab M. Otukile – Boxing
Umpire/Referee of the Year
• Dorothy Okatch – Basketball
• Emmanuel Kgaboetsile -Badminton
• Abel Mataboge – Softball
Coach of the Year
• Lechedzani M. Luza -Boxing
• Kebonemodisa D. Mosimanyane -Athletics
• Patricia Letshwenyo -Special Olympics
Sportsperson with Disability (Female)
• Gorata Malehaneng -Special Olympics
• Maduo Phuthego -Special Olympics
Sportsperson with Disability (Male)
• Glad Ketlaaleka (Swimming)- Special Olympics
• Edwin Masuge -PASSOBO
• Mompoloki Mosiiwa (800m & 1500m)-Special Olympics
