The Blues break barriers but
Sport
The records in the first opening 8 games previously set by Police XI and Mochudi Centre Chiefs have been broken by determined Township Rollers in a BTC premiership they entirely dominate- once again. STAFF WRITER MOSIMANEGAPE TSHOSWANE believes Nikola Kavazović side will win their 6th title, and that Rollers’ rivals are in their death bed- too paralyzed to mount a serious challenge.
The once faint belief that Botswana football is a fallen giant is now growing into unfathomable reality. The BTC premiership is now seen by many as a fading image of what was once a promising competitive league- a picture only vivid in the memories of the older generation. Could that be true, or Rollers are just moving from glory to glory in their own league?
Eight games, eight straight wins. This was last year’s scenario; a similar trend that appears set to repeat itself. In fact, this is a new statistic set by Rollers in the last 9 years. Police XI in the 2007/8 season, won 7 games and drew 1 in their 8 opening games. The ‘Jungle Kings’ as driven by Sthandwa Mogwadi went all the way to reach podium finish. In the 2009/10 season, when Centre Chiefs were untouchable, they matched Police XI’s record and were also crowned champions at the end of the season.
This was a long standing barrier now broken by the Jagdish Shah Project, and by the look of things, no other team will come close to these statistics. This is not helped by the fact that Township Rollers enemies are struggling to maintain a card of dominance. Chiefs, well known blood rivals of Rollers have turned into a failed project and are now a team that many believe has failed miserably to finish what they started. In years gone by, the Kgatleng giants re-wrote Botswana football scripts, and unreservedly nurtured the abounded idea that football players have to be paid handsomely.
Between 2010 and 2014, they were utterly unstoppable; it was easy for them to rise to the top, but with time, it proved difficult to remain there. In this season, Magosi, as appealing as they used to be, are in a relegation quagmire with a paltry 7 points from 8 games.
Gaborone United too played to deceive. Over some fruitful years, they assembled a competitive squad that won two Mascom top 8 titles, but differences and squabbles at boardroom level would soon trigger the team‘s fall from the dizzy high ways.
This season alone, a lot is expected from the side that used to give Rollers a run for their money. GU, a traditional rival of Township Rollers tried to be robust in the transfer window, but players recruited are yet to play as a unit. Moyagoleele has lost a single game thus far, but are already 11 points behind the champions elect. On the other hand, Rollers continues to raise the bar every season and the chasing pack fail to improve. There is significant evidence that these clubs are on their way back to misery.
There might be a considerable quality, verve and excitement in the league – and more than a glimmer at the end of the tunnel brought by both Orapa United and Jwaneng Galaxy, but these are new clubs still suffering from long term season syndrome. Both have won the Mascom Top 8 tourney- playing only 5 games to lift the cup.
Knocking Rollers off their perch already proved to be a difficult task for other premier league campaigns. There is no semblance of hope that the teams will put a spirited fight to ensure that Rollers is not handed the cup on a silver platter. This further fuels a view that the league is no longer competitive- where Rollers is playing against its former best.
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.
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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.”