Zapata for Rollers job
Sport
Former Gaborone United (GU) head Coach Rudolph Zapata emerges as the likeliest but shocking candidate to replace Township Rollers mentor Nikola Kavasovic after the latter was sacked despite winning double championships with them. Last season, Zapata left United under a cloudy circumstances to coach AFC Leopards of Kenya.
Reports say he strategically signed a six month contract where Rollers president Jagdish Shah was secretly monitoring the situation. Shockingly, sources further state that it was Shah himself who paid Zapata’s flight tickets when he left for Kenya. Information say, the Argentinean coach was always a heart-beat away from Shah. “It is not surprising that you hear speculation regarding Zapata and Township Rollers,” a source revealed.
Despite the club's very secret courting of the Argentine, there remains the possibility that Serbian gaffer Kostadin Papic could compete for the post as he too, is retaining much adoration at Palestine. Papic has previously coached in South African, leading Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at some point. Rollers hopes to profit from his vast knowledge of African football.
Papic is also seen as a highly rated tactician who can also transform Rollers season from a point of glory to another. The management is believed to be giving the Rollers coaching job a seriousness it deserves and the robust recruitment of aforementioned coaches in this period shows a measure of significance in traversing new territories.
Sources point out that Rollers would want Papic to command a salary scale same as Kavasovic but any other changes will be effected if need arises. Kavazovic was earning close to P50 000 excluding winning bonuses. While Rollers is steadfast in its insistency that nobody is crossing their mind in supplanting Kavasovic, this publication learns that the Gaborone giants will publicly address the issue once the appropriate time arrives.
On one hand, it is not yet clear if Zapata will gladly accept the Rollers offer, but what remains unchallenged is the fact that he has proven his mettle with GU under a limited budget. Rollers sources say he has been offered a 2 year contract to consider. All the while, Popa is cautioned to treat issues of coaches with the seriousness it deserves.
Each season, the club fire coaches despite reaching greater heights. Madinda Ndlovu, Mark Harrison and now Nikola Kavasovic all could not see the end of their contracts despite winning titles. However, Rollers sources say Kavazovic was never going to last in spite of his wonderful footballing tactics. The dents that ultimately bashed his reputation altogether came when he failed to manage his relationship with his former assistant coach Teenage Mpote.
The coach went on to side-line him and instead appoint former Rollers defender Leutwetse Tshireletso on deputizing roles. The tension struck deeper and players were also affected. Defender Mosha Gaolaolwe and midfielder-cum-striker Lemponye Tshireletso all had loud confrontation with the coach. As unattended as it was, Ofentse Nato also encountered altercations with coach, and as a serious remonstration, the defensive midfielder stopped training with the club.
As if it was not enough, the award winning coach fired his then technical director Dragojol Stanjolovic. Before his fall from Rollers radar, the coach was reported not to be on speaking terms with the club financer, Shah. It might have been the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
There are also unconfirmed reports that there is a lot of interference from management of Rollers which inadvertently gave Kavazovic and other former coaches the leverage to lay the blame for these setbacks squarely at the door of the club’s board. It is said the club moved too slowly in making some decisions. Rollers in their statement said, “The development regarding the appointment of the new head coach will be communicated as soon as finalized. In the meantime, current technical members will look after the team.”
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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.
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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.”