‘The Team is Really Scary’ - Letsile Tebogo Fires Warning to Botswana’s Relay Rivals Ahead of World Championships

Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Collen Kebinatshipi withdrew from World Relays over a pay dispute but will be back in Tokyo. Photo: Imago

‘The Team is Really Scary’ - Letsile Tebogo Fires Warning to Botswana’s Relay Rivals Ahead of World Championships

Joel Omotto 12:00 - 10.07.2025

Olympics 200m champion Letsile Tebogo has put Botswana’s 4x400m relay rivals on notice ahead of the World Championships as he feels they have the ‘scariest’ team.

Botswana sprint great Letslie Tebogo has fired a warning to their 4x400m relay rivals ahead of the 2025 World Championships.

Tebogo feels Botswana has never been well-stocked for the race as they are now after their second-string team qualified for the World Championships.

The Olympics 200m champion was among three big names who surprisingly withdrew from the 2025 World Relays Championships in May over late payment of their bonuses with Collen Kebinatshipi and Bayapo Ndori joining him in boycotting the event.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

That decision appeared to be a major setback for Botswana, given they needed a good performance in Guangzhou, China to seal a ticket to the World Championships in Tokyo, but the second-string team of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Justice Oratile, Kabo David Rankgwe and Leungo Scotch did enough to seal their place.

Team Botswana recorded a season’s best 3:01.23 to finish first in their heat and qualify for the Worlds and Tebogo is warning rivals that they have a scary squad that is going for nothing short of gold.

What Has Tebogo Said Over Botswana’s Relay Team?

Letsile Tebogo anchored Botswana's 4x400m relay squad to a new African Record and Olympic silver medal // @ESPNAfrica

“We do not need to say much, we will say everything in Tokyo,” Tebogo said in an interview with Real Talk With Tee.

“With the boys, how they did it at the World Relays, they [rivals] should be scared because that was more like Team B for us. Everybody is recovering, I am back in training, Ndori back in training, Collen is doing his thing, Scotch is doing his thing,” he added.

The 22-year-old says he has already informed his team-mates that Botswana is targeting gold and he will do everything within his powers to deliver it even if the rest do not believe so.

“The team is really scary right now, we do not know who is going to do which leg but we will see how it goes. Definitely, we are going for gold. I am the one who told them I am going for gold, if they do not want the gold, I will go for it and do whatever it takes,” Tebogo further said.

Tebogo’s optimism stems from the fact that he led Botswana to the 4x400m relay silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, having been on the anchor leg, and nearly stunned team USA, who won gold.