Galaxy vows to end Rollers dominance
Sport
If there is one team that can bring down Township Rollers swashbuckling dynasty is Jwaneng Galaxy. In many people’s views, Galaxy’s preparations and robust transfer recruitment during the 2018-19 season was the ‘epiphany’ for those who doubted the brilliance of one of the arguably best football sides ever.
Prior to the end of the 2017/18 season, many football pundits had predicted a lukewarm performance for Jwaneg Galaxy outfit. During that period, for the second season running, the club did not have their best start despite winning many pre-season friendly games. However, the long suffering Jwaneng community appears to have suddenly renewed hope of days long gone, after watching helplessly Township Rollers put the title out of their reach.
They roped in Zlatko Krmpotic, a highly renowned tactician whose first job was to clean the mess left by former coaches. Prior to vacating his post before the season ended, he seemed to have done exactly that, reminding domestic football that he is a pragmatic man whose football ideologies have been appealing even to the purists. Come the 2017/2018 football season, in came another tactician, Miguel Da Costa, whose first task was to defend the top 8 cup won previously by Mike Sithole. He faltered on the first time of asking, but won it with easy in the second trial.
Indeed Galaxy needed the quality of a coach such as Da Costa who expertly surveyed and managed a squad that had worrying holes in it the previous seasons. And from a distance, the Portuguese coach looks to have somehow transformed previous term’s little failures to a team ready for more challenges. This would represent success and the soft spoken mentor is aware even this will be difficult.
Galaxy and Rollers will enter this campaign coveting above all the prize the other possesses. Galaxy were good enough last time out to have been crowned Mascom top 8 champions while Rollers took home another BTC title. It was for the second year running as Galaxy finished few points behind Rollers. That demoralizing reality could still linger into this season but Galaxy hopes for renewed run.
Waiting for the champions to falter during an enthralling run-in proved punishing and futile for Galaxy. It may do so again this season. But Da costa’s side, who were the first team to beat Rollers last season, had assembled a fearful side that eventually dominated the end of season awards. They knew they pose the greatest threat to Rollers’ dominance.
They know they have the talent and depth to sustain a challenge. Since last season, they know what it are to be winners too. The comeback against BDF XI changed everything for a team that have shed the substantial weight of nearly men. Finishing second behind Rollers is a more inspirational mantle as they pursue the club’s first league title after so many years, a truly ludicrous stretch for a club of Galaxy’s resources.
Galaxy have progressed each season under different management but improving on a club record points tally plus the ultimate triumph of a top 8 presents a formidable challenge for the coach who has unified Jwaneng. With no senior additions at the time of writing, he is seeking further improvement within a comparatively young but experienced and balanced squad. His track record of developing players, whether bought or inherited, suggests that is achievable, but it is not wholly desirable given the lack of cover for some defenders.
Sport
Orange injects P350 000 into Phikwe marathon
Mobile network Orange Botswana is committed to supporting the development of local sport. Through its sponsorship, the company will be able to promote and market the sport. According to Maano Masisi, the company believes that sport can unite people from different backgrounds.
He stated that through the sponsorship of the marathon, the company will help promote healthy lifestyles and unity among the people of Selebi Phikwe.
The Selebi Phikwe Marathon is scheduled to take place on July 29, 2023. It is expected that it will attract international, regional, and social runners. A total of P216 000 has been allocated for the prize money for the first ten places in the 42.2 km race. For the 15km and 10km races, the LOC will give away prizes to the first five places.
Sport
Big Guns for Botswana Grand Prix
The National Stadium will be lit up with fireworks on April 29, 2023, as some of the best international athletes will participate in the maiden Botswana Grand prix.
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Sport
AFRICA’S RECOVERY: Sports as game changer
The year 2022 witnessed unprecedented phenomena. Several Africans- Gotytom Gebreslase, Sharon Lokedi, Victor Kiplangat, Tamarit Tola and many others- swept the World’s marathons records.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting control measures implemented in several countries, led to many high-level sports competitions being cancelled or shelved, the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games was moved to 2026.
Founder and Executive Chairman, African Sports and Creative Institute, Will Mabiakop, says the inability to hold traditional and amateur sports events have had a serious effect on public health overall, including mental health, sparking a revolution whereby athletes began to talk more openly about stress, mental overload and performance anxiety.
“Africa is home to the fastest growing economies before the crisis, no longer on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). COVID-19 deepened interdependence between SDGs, making them harder to achieve, especially SDG 10 (reducing inequality) and SDG 5 (gender equality_ as the pandemic had a disproportionate impact on poorer countries, and heavier burdens (such as care work) fell to women.”
Mabiakop stresses that as policymakers contemplate actions to speed up recovery and build resilience, they must argue that sports and creative businesses should play a central feature in this effort.
“The sports economy worldwide is estimated at 5% of GDP, but only 0.5% in Africa. If exploited, Africa’s sports and creative industries can offer policymakers innovative solutions. Especially, as regards job creation, and providing employment to the 15 million people entering the job market annually.”
HOW CAN THE INDUSTRY DO THIS?
By leveraging the two-for-one concept: past studies shown that a 1% growth in the economy delivers a 2% job increment in this sector (these ratios are calculated using data from 48 African countries and adjusted to the reality of the sports economy in Africa by the authors). There are between 30 and 50 job types, in sports and creative industries, respectively. These jobs do not fade away with the first major shock.
Mabiakop indicated that policymakers can use these industries to tackle multiple crises- jobs, poverty, and climate risks. Sports diplomacy- defined as communication, representation and negotiation in or through the prism of sports- has proven effective in building inclusive and cohesive societies. Moreover, sports and the creative industry can support better mental health and well-being, both important for productivity.
“Policymakers can also be true to the game by leveraging culture and tradition to celebrate identity and reap commercial value in sports, textiles and jewelry. Creative sectors allow deeper connection with culture, are not easily copied and provide great economic potential.”
He said supporting grassroots sports has powerful distributional effects. “Fortunately, technology has made reaching wide audiences easier, generating higher rates of success when talent is discovered.”
However, Mabiakop held that potential pitfalls must be highlighted. “First avoid build it and they will come policies with infrastructures denuded from the rest of the ecosystem. Like the many sports stadiums left largely unused.”
“Policymakers must remain mindful of how these sectors move the needle in human capital development. Also, align the requisite public policies needed for progress from grassroots participation to professional sports, and even to international sporting events. They should also support investment instruments to render these sectors performant.”