Botha’s sacrifice

LIMBA MUPETAMIWINDHOEKHenk Botha, the coach of teenage sprint stars Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, went as far as neglecting his own family because of his unswerving dedication to grooming his protégés, his brother Jean-Pierre ‘JP’ Botha has said.He says Henk’s daughter, who lives in the United States, has been visiting her parents for the last month but did not get to spend much time with her father in the run-up to the Olympic Games, as he was preoccupied with preparing Mboma and Masilingi for international stardom.“He doesn’t see these two girls as athletes he works with. He sees them as his own children. He tries to do everything he can for them.“Sometimes he gets sad because he hasn’t spent much time with his biological daughter who has been visiting for a month. He doesn’t mind this. But sometimes he is sad because he neglects her because of the dedication he has towards the two athletes.“He would do anything for them and I’m sure they see him as a father figure as well. They have great respect for him and listen to him and that is where the magic comes from,” JP says.Together as oneBotha’s friend and colleague Louise van der Merwe also shared some background information about the teacher-turned-coach.“Botha will always be involved with and committed to the development of all children in our country. He is therefore still the CEO of Nova Stella Educational Institute, situated in Grootfontein. He is also responsible for the high-performance sport school we wish to establish.“He is not just a colleague, but also a true friend. Together with his wife, he took in the girls. If that is not commitment, then I don't know what is. Without those two people's generosity and kind hearts, things would have been much different for the girls.“I must commend him on the way he treats the girls. Nothing is ever too much and it is always done with a smile, a joke and a hug.“He truly cares for the girls and it is clear that the feeling is mutual. We are a family which Botha and a pinch of fate have created. True teachers are born and then become addicts – Botha will never not be a teacher.“You can ask the girls - they will tell you that he trains them and he teaches them how to be the best independent versions of themselves. To me, that is what we all should be doing in this country,” said Van der Merwe.

Botha’s sacrifice

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-16

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Botha’s sacrifice

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-16

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