Rollers’ million pula drop in gate- takings!
Sport
Despite a successful season coupled with two domestic titles and a first time appearance in CAF Champions’ League group stages, Township Rollers has announced a massive decline in season gate-taking revenue.
Reports emerging from the team’s Annual General Assembly, held over the past weekend indicated that gate-taking revenues have declined by a staggering P1.1 million. Roller have reportedly made a total of P 800 000 of the season end, compared to P1.9 million of the previous season.
Such an astounding loss is given birth by a low turnout of football fans at the stadium. Rollers have a diagnosis of the problem, key among them being loss of interest in the domestic league by locals. Rollers, arguably the best supported club across the country also contends that timing of fixtures affected everything last season.
In any case, the club has continued to make profit through merchandise. The team which is rumored to be on the verge of opening their stadium has also cashed-in on its participation in the on-going Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournament. They earned at total of P5 million, just for reaching the group stages.
Meanwhile, rival clubs seems to be making losses at all fronts. The Botswana Premier League (BPL) clubs, over the past seasons have been paying Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) 25% of gate takings. Teams are however crying foul over the percentage, saying they are not making profits. Part of the reason advanced is that, teams usually struggle to pay players, amongst other things after paying stadia levy.
However, this publication has gathered that the league board is suggesting a new payment ranging between P1.2 and P1.5 million to the Sport Commission. Should both parties agree, premier league teams will for the first time recoup 100% as gate takings to improve players’ living conditions. Should the move see the light of the day, it will effectively mean that the issue of ticketing solely becomes the responsibility of premier league teams, and not the premier league board as it has been the case.
The negotiations, once agreed upon, will reverse and repel, to a certain degree, BNSC’s total recommendation of e-ticketing. The commission advocated for the use of an e-ticketing system that it will facilitate speedy reconciliation when payment is done. But in any case, Rollers is on its way to joining BDF XI, Police XI, Orapa United and Jwaneng Galaxy as the only premier teams with total control of their stadia. League officials were not ready to admit whether they will use the Rollers stadium in the near future, but are courageous that should an agreement be reached, the stadia should help reduce over-reliance on BNSC.
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.
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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.”