BY: Katlego Mechedi
Botswana’s 400m athletics sensation,
Leungo Scotch is the 2020 sportsman of the year after scooping the prestigious Botswana National Sports Commission(BNSC)`s sportsperson of the year award at the 40th edition of Botswanasports awards held on November 24.
TALKING POINTS
- Leungo Scotch dominated the night
- Scotch forms a formidable 4X4 team that won team of the year
- He walks away with 100 K for the accolade
LEUNGO SCOTCH WINS IN HIS FIRST NOMINATION
Leungo Scotch attained the big award as his first time ever nomination to Botswana’s Sports Awards highest male award accolade.
The energetic sprinter was facing tough competition from the boxing African Champion,
Rajab Otukile Mahammed who has been the contender for the same category in the previous 38th edition of Botswana sports awards.
The Gaborone based runner emerged the king of
Botswana Sports awards after having a fruitful 2019 as 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. Leungo Scotch further won a silver medal at the BAA National Championship and reached the semi-finals in the 400m at the World Athletics Championships held at Doha.
SCOTCH TEAM CONTINUED TO DOMINATE THE BOTSWANA SPORTS AWARDS
The ambitious athletics star was also part of the men 4X400 relay team that won gold at the African Games, Bahamas National Finals, and Manchester International Meet respectively.
The 4X400m relay team continued their dominance by defending their title, adding another trophy to their rich cabinet.
The 24-year-old said that he thanks his parents, his coach, and his team as they contributed to his success.
“I would like to take this time to thank my parents at home, my coach as well as my teammates, concluded Scotch.”
In the ladies section, athletics continued to dominate as the Female Sports Person of the Year Award was won by 400 m runner Galefele Moroko.Moroko is recognized for winning gold at the 2019 Africa games, reaching semi-finals of the World Athletics Championship, a member of the 4X4 relay team that won silver at Africa Games, and notably qualifying for
Tokyo 2021 games.
In other highly contested categories, Denzel Seetso of tennis is the Junior Male Sportsperson of the Year, his counterpart Refilwe Gabatshwane of chess became a victor in the ladies category. President Thato Patlakwe of Botswana Boxing Association(BOBA) is the administrator of the year, Kebonemodisa Mosimanyane of Athletics is the coach of the year, umpire of the year went to Dorothy Okatch and sportspersons with Disabilities winners are Gorata Moleheng and Glad Ketlaaleka in female and males respectively.