01 Apr 2025

Botswana’s mark in the global athletics scene cannot go unnoticed and the country is set to take centre stage on  April 12 when the world’s renowned athletes descend on the National Stadium for the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix.

And as it gets juicier, Batswana will have an opportunity to watch live at home their Olympic hero, Letsile Tebogo. Tebogo, who will be competing in 200m, is expected to demonstrate the same techniques he used on that fateful day, when he won the first ever gold medal for Botswana at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

The icing on the cake will be when other local athletes take to the track. According to the entry list, Collen Kebinatshipi and Ernest Kumevu will be in the mix. South Africa will be represented by Luxolo Adams while Kenya will showcase Zablon Ekwam. 

Emmaniel Itoungue Bogognie will represent Cameron. Jamaican Tracey Tyquendo and Bahamas’ Ian Kerr will also be here to add spice to the list of the athletes. In the last edition, Tebogo was tested and he stood the test competing with Canadians greats such as Rodney Brendon, Blake Jerome, and Andre De Grasse. The line-up also had Liberian Joseph Fahnbulleh, and the Dominican Republic athlete, Alexander Ogando. 

Fresh from graduating from the juniors, Tebogo made his intensions clear as he dominated the field and finished the race first in 19.87 seconds. Having gained experience from the Diamond League and Olympics, Botswana’s wonder kid is expected to give spectators value for their money. He is expected to push 400m runners Kumevu and Kebinatshipi, who will be using the 200 metres for endurance, to clock better times.

In the 100m race, South Africa's rising sprinting star Bayanda Walaza, will line up against his home boys Akani Simbine, Tsebo Matsoso and Benjamin Richardson, as well as Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala, Italian Fillipo Randozzo, and Jamaicans Tracey Tyquendo and Emmanuel Eseme.

In the 400m men, the entry list has Botswana’s finest, Bayapo Ndori, Lee Eppie, Leungo Scotch, USA’s Ryan Willie, Ugandan Adoli Haron, Nigerian Chidi Okezie, and South Africans Lythe Pillay and Zakithi Nene. 

The event spokesperson, Calistus Kolantsho emphasised their mission to deliver a successful and competitive event, pointing that they had completed the entry list and were working around the clock to release a start list. ENDS