The Voice (Francistown)
29 April 2008
Botswana's first-ever international swimming team exceeded all expectations last week when they ventured to Zimbabwe to take on some of the best swimmers in Southern Africa.
The 23-member team captured 16 medals at the 2007 Sub-Saharan Invitational Swimming Gala in Harare and finished the nine-nation competition in sixth place ahead of Uganda, Namibia and swimming powerhouse South Africa.
Zimbabwe won the three-day event followed by Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Swaziland.
Botswana's score of 1344 left them well behind the top three nations but the total placed them only 81 points behind Swaziland and 160 behind Mozambique.
Botswana's top performer, 17-year-old Pamelyn Beukes captured five silver and four bronze medals finishing several races close behind female swimmer of the tournament Kim Eeson of Zimbabwe.
Fourteen-year-old Samantha Baillie won two silver medals, 10-year old Thinesh Manisekaran captured one silver, 18-year-old Calvin Lane won two bronze medals, and 12-year-old Kylie Gunter and 10-year old Maggie Brina took home one bronze each.
Several other swimmers including 9-year-old Motswana David Van der Colff broke existing Sub-Saharan records despite finishing outside the top three medal positions.
Team Manager Nasreen Essack said everyone associated with the Botswana team was thrilled with the debut performance.
"We came to this tournament looking to be competitive and maybe take home two or three medals. No one was expecting 16. This is truly fantastic."
Essack also said the other national teams were very impressed by Botswana's swimmers.
"All the other coaches had nothing but good things to say about us, and we have already received invitations to take part in national galas in Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia. Now all we need is some funding so we can continue to develop swimming as a competitive sport in Botswana."
Botswana is also scheduled to host the Sub-Saharan Gala in 2011, but that is still subject to funding approval by the Botswana Sports Council. The government funding body did not provide any money for this year's event although the Botswana Swimming Sports Association has been told it can apply for reimbursement for the 11 Batswana on the team.
Last year's Botswana National Gala which was used to select the Sub-Saharan team was held at the new 50-metre pool at the University of Botswana, so an Olympic-size venue is already in place. About another P200,000, however, would be needed from the Sports Council to hold the 2011 Sub-Saharan competition in Gaborone.
The Swimmers' families covered accommodation, food and travel costs for this year's Botswana Sub-Saharan team while sponsors Sereti Business Solutions, Trident Holdings, Motorite Insurance Administrators, Regent Insurance, Regent Life, The Butcher Shop, the BDF and Global Holdings picked up the cost of the kit.
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