Sibanda Junior Sports Man of The Year

Botswana’s 400 metre runner, Karabo Sibanda has raised the country’s flag high by winning the Junior Sportsman of the Year at the Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA) at Birchwood Estate in Johannesburg on May 27.

Sibanda, who was not present at the awards as he was competing at the Eugene Diamond League meeting, did not finish the race as he was whisked out of the field in a wheelchair.

Sibanda was pitted against Namibian Kick boxer, Delano Muller, who earlier this year competed at the Battle of Atlanta World Championships, where he won first place in Mixed Martial Arts, and three third places in Continuous Sparring and the Fitness division and Zimbabwean Karateka Beaven Sibanda.

However, their rich achievement could not match Sibanda’s, given that he won silver at the 20th CAA African Senior Championship in Durban last year.

He was the 2016 Olympic Games finalist, where he finished on position five with a Personal Best 44.25 and won a bronze at the IAAF World U20 Championships.

In an interview, the elated Sibanda said he was happy that he managed to win and defend the award that was won by his training partner, Baboloki Thebe last year.

He said the award was motivation to him and he would continue to work hard and represent Botswana with pride.

The sports team of the year award went to South African football team, Mamelodi Sundowns beating Botswana’s men  4×400 relay team and Zimbabwe National women football team.

For the coach of the year award, Botswana’s athletics coach, Mogomotsi Otsetswe, who had produced the likes of Thebe and Sibanda, was pitted against South African athletics coach, Anna Botha, who is coaching the current 400 metre World Record holder, Wayde van Niekerk and Namibian Paralympic coach Michael Humukwanya. Botha who scooped the award