BFA, All Kasi kiss and make up
Sport
Botswana Football Association (BFA) and long standing technical sponsors, All Kasi have ironed out their issues following protracted talks that nearly risked the life of the union.
WeekendSport has learnt that BFA, as led by shrewd business guru Maclean Letshwiti complained early last year that the association was not benefitting from the All-Kasi partnership, but instead incurred costs- particularly when selling and distributing Zebras replica jerseys. The deal that was struck on the 13th of January 2016 indicated that the association had undertaken to buy replicas from Tsa Gae(PTY) Ltd- trading as All Kasi- and then sell at a marked up price to make profit.
While the initial agreement was seen to be depleting the BFA coffers more than it could make it overflow, the two parties have successfully negotiated that the Lobatse based clothing company should continue producing and selling the replicas, a development that will see BFA benefiting 5% of sales as well as royalties. BFA is resolute on this agreement more particularly because the clothing label uses BFA logos.
Documentation this publication is in possession of reveals that the association that was once led by Tebogo Sebego had committed to purchase a minimum order of 20.000 replica jerseys every year of the contract. BFA would, after the purchase, sell and distribute the replicas for profit making. Initially, it was understood that the association bought each replica jersey at a price of P250. This therefore meant that BFA had to pay All Kasi a total of P5million in each phase of the 3 year contract.
As a cost recovery measure, BFA was selling the same jerseys at a value of P350 to accrue a total of P7million, assuming all the jerseys sold out. It became evidently clear that this move presented problems on the side of the association as it failed to push distribution and its sales. BFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nfolo Nfolo said that BFA and All Kasi are still partners and could not reveal any more information beyond that. “What I can only say is that All Kasi is still our partners,” he said briefly.
The communication department of the association also could not provide detailed accounts of the new partnership only saying “there is no how contractual obligation would be discussed in the media platforms,” BFA Public Relations Officer, Tumo Mpatane said.
All Kasi, who allegedly fell into the BFA’s radar through the influence of Minister of Youth, Culture Development and Sports Empowerment, Thapelo Olopeng, is however expected to continue providing BFA with sportswear( which include training kits, training bibs, track suits, Bench jackets, Rain jackets, Golf shirts and training pants among others) at a value of 1.6 million. In the old makeup, the BFA said it was not receiving some of the apparels as per the agreement.
However, with efforts to foster relations and demonstrate their loyalty to the association, All Kasi will continue supplying other equipment such as shin pads, medical bags, players’ bags and match goalkeeper gloves at a value of BW 196.000. These are playing equipment which is not designed by All Kasi.
The company, directed by Ludo Kemoeng and Bannes Maplanka is in total dressing the men’s senior national team, the under 23 team, the under 20 team, the under 15, and the women’s senior national team along with its similar junior teams. The contract between the two parties is expected to expire in January 2019.
All Kasi is the only and first local clothing label to be associated with BFA. Most notably, the partnership came to be known more when the Senior National Team, The Zebras qualified for the African Football Continental show piece better known as AFCON that was co- hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. It was the first time the Zebras participated in the finals and it was the first time for the company to dress the team. In appreciation, All Kasi raised P 1 million from specially designed replicas and gave players the profits.
Sport
Orange Botswana gift Tebogo with P150K
Local sprinter, Letsile Tebogo has been rewarded with a whopping P150 000.00 by Orange Botswana for his heroics at the recently held World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Speaking at a Handover Ceremony for Tebogo, Orange Botswana Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maano Masisi said, Orange Botswana is steadfast in their commitment to nurturing the youth and promoting sports in diverse ways.
“Letsile stands as a formidable force and an inspiration to young Batswana, showcasing the value of sports not only in Botswana but on an international stage through his remarkable achievements. Orange Botswana, furthermore, desires to cultivate enduring relationships with aspiring young Batswana, much like Letsile, who embody dedication, focus, and excellence in their endeavors. Letsile has already shattered records, etching new milestones for the African continent and beyond,”
Masisi further said the partnership aligns seamlessly with Orange Botswana’s dedication to acknowledging exceptional individual talent like Tebogo.
“As previously announced when we started this relationship, our collaboration with yourself entails financial support from Orange Botswana to fuel your journey in competitive sports, alongside your representation as the face of Orange Botswana,” he said.
For his part, Tebogo pleaded with Orange Botswana to extend his contract as it is beneficial to him, “I am thankful to Orange Botswana and I hope they could extent my contract as it has been very helpful.”
Meanwhile, Tebogo’s coach, Kebonyemodisa ‘Dose’ Mosimanyana was also showered with P10 000.00 for always ensuring that Tebogo is ready to take on the world.
Sport
Athletes confront Minister Rakgare
Local athletes, Zibane Ngozi and Letsile Tebogo have confronted Minister of Youth, Gender and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare citing lack of support during preparations.
Speaking at the World Champs team Welcome Ceremony on Wednesday, the 4 x 400m relay specialist and Team Captain, Ngozi urged some of the government officials inclusive of Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) representative, Rakgare to attend these high-profile competitions to witness the hardships they go through during these competitions.
“People need to understand it is not easy for us when we arrive at the World stage, there is a lot that is going on hence we need support in order for us to succeed as expected.
However, I am happy that immediately when I arrived in Botswana, BNSC credited our allowances which was a good thing because we had lots of debts (jokingly) thus we manage to settle them,” he said.
On the other hand, Tebogo who brought home two medals (silver and bronze) from 100m and 200m respectively at the World Champs said most athletes are going through depression due unfavorable conditions.
“Most of us going through depression because we lack support during preparations, we are only celebrated when we win but in hard times we are forgotten. Athletics is a difficult sport hence we need all the support we could to make it through and eventually amass medals as it is expected by our country,”
For his part, Rakgare admitted that local sport is faced with challenges, including but not limited to a tough sponsorship environment, limited or no sport in public schools, doping and leadership instability.
“I would of course be surprised if anyone of you would not agree with me that notwithstanding the challenges, we continue to achieve unprecedented results in sport, and the year to date is no exception,” he said.
Rakgare gave special recognition to Oratile Rose Nowe for heroics at the World Champs, “I would like to take this opportunity and congratulate Nowe for attaining a new personal best 2:01.62 in Women’s 800m, which also happens to be a national record. By the way, Oratile is the first Motswana woman to ever qualify for the World Championships in middle distance running.”
According to Rakgare, Government, recognizes athletes’ achievements at any and every competition, and that is why most recently, they have rewarded them at the Youth and Sport Awards.
“I would like to thank the Government of Botswana for their investment in sport. We continue to pride ourselves in being one of the best funders of sport per capita, and as indicated earlier, we are not intending to slow down anytime soon,”
On a lighter note, World Champs BW Team was rewarded by various companies such as Debswana, Choppies, Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) and also government as a token of appreciation for participating in Hungary.
Tebogo was rewarded with P560 000 from Debswana, Choppies and BPC for bringing two medals home, 4 x 400m men relay finalists (Ngozi, Baboloki Thebe, Laone Ditshetelo and Leungo were given P25 000 apiece for reaching the finals and participating by Debswana; while ladies (Tlhomphang Basele, Golekanye Chikani, Lydia Jele, Oratile Nowe, Galefele Moroko, Obakeng Kamberuka were given P10 000 each for participation.
In addition, the World Champs team amassed P926 000.00 of which P250 000 would go to Tebogo and the remaining P676 000 will be shared amongst the rest of the team.
Sport
BONA to host 2023 Africa Netball Cup
With several local associations currently going through a rough patch in terms of financial quagmires, Botswana Netball Association (BONA) Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mokeresete Mokeresete is optimistic to host the 2023 Africa Netball Cup as per the request from African Netball Board (Executive Committee) because Uganda has pulled out.
Will it be successful or finally quench the thirst of competing internationally?
The African Netball Championships or Africa Netball Cup are a netball competition held every after two years with teams from across Africa competing for the top price.
BONA National team competed in the last edition of the Africa Netball Cup which was held in 2021 in Namibia and they finished in position seven which was average.
Last time BONA hosted an event of this magnitude was the 2017 Netball Youth World Cup which was indeed a success even though the local team (Dinaletsana) finished in position 10.
One would have thought that the Dinaletsana team which looked promising would eventually go on and conquer the world in the following international competitions. However, that has not been the case as they struggled to qualify for the recent World Cup which was held in the neighboring South Africa.
In addition, the Botswana Netball League was last played in November 2022 and in 2023 they hosted a Fast Five Netball Cup just before the Netball World Cup.
In an interview with WeekendSport this week, BONA Public Relations Officer (PRO) said they have accepted to host the 2023 Africa Netball Cup following the pulling out of Uganda.
“We have recently accepted a request to the 2023 Africa Netball Cup, however – we are still working on finalizing all the logistics that will be in play as you are aware that hosting an event requires a budget which might be difficult because we were given a smaller potion in the recent financial year.
Furthermore, we are yet to come up with a consolidated budget which could help us map a way forward as we really want to stage this particular competition. It is vital for us to host this competition as we want to revitalize local netball, we want to attract more for the league,” said Mokeresete Mokeresete.
MORE NETBALL ACTION AHEAD?
Mokeresete further hinted that the upcoming Independence Cup will be preparatory tournament for the upcoming Africa Netball Cup.
“We are going to host the Independence Cup of which we are expected at least 16 ladies’ teams and a few of male’ teams as we are still swiftly introducing the male section to the sport in Orapa.
However, prior to the action we are going conduct courses for match officials, technical official and coaches’ beginners’ level 1 courses as an effort of improve the standards of the sporting code,” hinted Mokeresete.
MISSING THE RECENT NETBALL WORLD CUP WAS CATASTROPHIC
According to BONA PRO, missing the recent Netball World Cup was catastrophic as players missed out on an opportunity to showcase their talents on the world stage which was bound to garner those deals to more professional countries in terms of Netball.
“We are seeing lots of movement for players from countries like Zimbabwe which is remarkable and that could have happened for our player – but it wasn’t to be as we did not qualify for the main event.
Moreover, through the World Cup Legacy Program, we have been awarded a sprung board and we are contention to transport it from South Africa to the country as one of the requirements to host a sporting event is to have a sprung floor,”
Meanwhile, the 2023 Africa Netball Cup is scheduled between November 26 – October 06 2023 at University of Botswana (UB) Indoor Sports Arena.