Of muti and Football in Botswana
Sport
For a long time now, superstition that muti remains an integral part of the football game has gone unchecked. But recently; the case of one traditional doctor against trouble ridden Mochudi Centre Chiefs, answers in part, that winning football honours is deeply rooted in the most functioning muti than fashionable football philosophies, STAFF WRITER MOSIMANEGAPE TSHOSWANE argues.
Molaiemang Nkganetsang, a traditional doctor based in Palapye might have written a new chapter in the football spectrum as he triumphed over Mochudi Centre Chiefs in a court battle, accusing the Kgatleng giants of breaching a contract that he claims helped them win the 2011-12 league title.
While accolades were showered on the then winning coach Madinda Ndlovu, the court documents paint a totally different picture. According to the documents, Nkganetsang’s rituals played a pivotal part in heralding Magosi to the helm of football dominance. In the season 2009-10, the club, after discovering Nkganetsang former Club Chairman Ernest Molome and club official Seatla Pilane consulted the traditional doctor for muti rituals which would turn Chiefs into the envy of other premier league clubs.
At the time, it was agreed that, for each premier league and coca-cola cup game, Nkganetsang should be ready to provide services by way of ritual cleansing and other necessary traditional doctor expertise to enhance Chiefs’ performance. Still in the same season, an agreement was hatched that Nkganetsang’s services should cover the last 8 games of the season together with Coca- Cola cup games.
Interestingly, the traditional doctor charged a sum of P2000 per league game while charges for the coca cola cup tournament until the semi-final stage were P 4 000. For the final, an amount of P 12 000 was charged. No one, whether inside Chiefs management or outside, can explicitly explain what really transpired in the very same season that, even though muti was expensively purchased, Chiefs’ blood rivals Township Rollers ran riot and won both the league title and the Coca- cola Cup. More worryingly, it was Rollers led by Rahman Gumbo who humbled Chiefs at the finals of the 2010 Coca Cola cup. Was it because Nkganetsang’s muti failed to pull wonders or Rollers had a better strategy on the day?
Some believe muti can blind a club’s ambition, but what openly stands out is that faith goes a long way in determining whether this muti works or not. Ironically, in the case of Chiefs, large amounts of pulas were splashed on this apparent performance enhancing mixture, but players often times were crying over unpaid salaries.
Meanwhile, the contract between Nkganetsang and Chiefs continued to run, and it was in the 2011-12 season when the works of this traditional doctor- who registered with the United Herbalist Society- began to bear fruits. The Kgatleng giants won the league with 3 games to spare. Their crowning moment was when they demolished the then stubborn Police XI by 3-1, a result that also gave striker Kekaetswe Mara Moloi the golden boot award.
However, monies accrued over the 2009-10 and 2011-12 were never paid to the last thebe. Nkganetsang believed whole heartedly that his works behind Chiefs rise were beyond the shadow of doubt visible. In October 2012, the case entered the Francistown High Court and after 5 long years of waiting, Chiefs was ordered to pay him a total sum of P 87 000.
Now that the case of Magosi has thrown into the open the contrasting powers of muti, it however still remains a debatable subject that the very same mixture can offer a club titles on a silver platter. Locally different kinds of clubs have achieved, but on the international stage they have failed miserably. All in all, muti might be an instrumental piece in winning silverware for a short term plan, but also comes at a hefty price. Magosi now suffers the devastation consequences.
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.
This content is locked
Login To Unlock The Content!
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.”