GU may reunite with Zapata
Sport
There is repeated speculation that Rudolph Zapata will return to his former club Gaborone United (GU) where he enjoyed a season’s little success before falling out with the club management over his unpaid salaries.
Having recently resigned at AFC Leopards of Kenya after spending only a season, the Argentinian born coach is believed to be eyeing a return move to Botswana football. He was, not long ago, shortlisted and interviewed by Jwaneng Galaxy before the mining giants hired Portuguese coach Manuel Da Costa.
However, there remains the possibility that Prisons XI’s Philemon Makhwengwe and former Zebras head coach Peter Butler could compete for the post. Both gaffers including Zapata are close admirers of Nicholas Zakhem, GU reports claim.
Khalim Neyonzima and former player Stephen Maposa are the current incumbents in the GU hot seat, on an interim deal, but there are increasingly vocal calls for the likeable Maposa to be given the role on full-time basis after resurrecting the reds' off season campaign, securing a maiden Botswana Telecommunication Corporation (BTC) charity cup with winning prize money of P 300 000.
If he is to return, Zapata would have to accept the existing structure in place at the club particularly that a lot has changed after his departure. This is not the same Gaborone United that was run and administered under colossal politics from the club’s society that now demand quick results. It remains to be seen whether the coach will accept the GU hierarchy, despite the confidence that further significant squad strengthening will take place in the next few months.
Some quarters however mention that zapata’s ascendency at GU will have to be determined by a couple of factors at the club. As things stand, there is no clear understanding regarding the ownership of the club. Like its counterpart Mochudi Center Chiefs, Gaborone United is a club deeply wounded by factional wars. “So the future of Zapata (if any) will be determined by who wins at the end of the day,” a source shared.
Towards the end of last season, GU’s soft-spoken gaffer was seen throwing tantrums to an extent of threatening to quit the club for good, citing poor administration at the club that also hindered him from giving his players silverware. It is therefore not clear if the Argentinean born coach has buried the hatchet with the club. According to insiders, this probable remains low, owing to the speculation involving Butler.
While GU will only publicly address the coach situation once the issue with ownership is complete, discussions have been taking place for some time behind the scenes. The club has also sounded out potential replacements if Makhwengwe or Zapata turns them away.
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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.”