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BSA announces Extravaganza teams

Botswana Softball Association (BSA) on Tuesday announced the teams that will participate at this this year’s edition of the Selebi Phikwe Softball Extravaganza Tournament.

The announcement follows last weekend’s qualifiers where teams fought against each to book themselves a spot in the country’s most prized softball tournament. The tournament will be held in Selebi Phikwe on July 15 – 17, 2017. The tournament which is held under the auspices of BSA and it is a premier event on the BSA calendar which features 16 top teams from north and south of the country to battle for the P75, 000 prize money in both the men and ladies category.


The participating teams include the defending champions for both men and ladies categories being BDF IX and Police IX respectively as well as home side, Comets which are perennial participants by virtue of being the hosts.  Under the men’s category, the North will be represented by Comets, Ghetto Yankees from Francistown, Rebels from Orapa and Rail Giants from Mahalapye. The south will be represented by BDF IX, Panthers, Police IX, all three from Gaborone as well as Wells International from Jwaneng.


Comets, Carats from Orapa, Scramblers from Francistown and Rail Giants from Mahalapye will represent the North in the ladies category while the south will be represented by BDF, Panthers, Police IX and Wells International. For the south, the boys qualified alongside their girls, an exciting pattern that will see the south represented by the same teams under both the male and female category. From North, only Comets and Rail Giants have both its teams participating.


The 2017 edition however will take place against the backdrop of financial challenges emanating from the closure of BCL Limited which was the parent sponsor of the tournament. The majority of the tournament sponsors where companies which were in business with BCL. Following the closure of the mine, nine of the 16 sponsors withdrew their support, the Tournament Director, Dan Mahupela told the media recently.


Mahupela said that the tournament which was started eight years ago, kicked off with a P50, 000 budget and has grown over the years to the current budget of P650, 000. He pointed out that despite losing many of their sponsors, the remaining seven have enabled the tournament to continue. The remaining sponsors are KOMATSU and Bridgestone which are the longest and faithful sponsors since from the beginning, Puma Energy, Stanlib, Investec, Bitek and Boitekanelo.


Mahupela thanked the sponsors and paid a special tribute to Bridgestone, a tyre company based in South Africa which has seen the need to invest in sport development in Botswana. “We want to make Selebi Phikwe to remain at the centre of sport development and we are grateful to Bridgestone which saw the need to invest in sport not only in their home country but internationally,” said Mahupela.


The first and second prize money will remain the same as last year at P75, 000 and P40, 000 respectively. The prizes have increased by P2, 000 from third position to eight. The third prize will be P28, 000 while fourth position will walk away with P23, 000. Position five and six will be awarded P18, 000 and P14, 000 respectively while the last two positions will go home with a consolation prize of P12, 000. The overall budget for prizes and awards that include the Most Valuable Player, Best Slugger and Best Outfielder stands at P454, 000.

Daniel Mahupela pointed out that despite a shortfall in sponsorships, prudent financial management practices made sure that the surplus from the previous tournament bridges the gap to ensure the smooth execution of the tournament. Meanwhile, SPEDU which has since taken over as the parent sponsor of the tournament says the development of Sport Tourism is envisaged to pump life into the dry economic veins of Selebi Phikwe despite being a comparatively new concept far away from mining which has been the lifeline of the town for over forty years.

SPEDU’s Director of Strategic Projects, Jazenga Uezesa told the media  that they have partnered with Selebi Phikwe Softball Extravaganza to use the tournament as a launch-pad to identify the positive impact that sport tourism can make as a developmental initiative to revive the economy of Selebi Phikwe. Apart from supporting the Softball Extravaganza tournament, Uezesa revealed that SPEDU has also partnered with Selebi Phikwe National Marathon to help push their mandate of laying a foundation and leading the economic diversification through sport and events tourism.

The Director stated that Selebi Phikwe’s economy can be improved by hosting of regular sporting events as sport has increasingly taken a significant position in the economic and social growth of Botswana. Apart from Softball and Phikwe National Marathon, SPEDU has been supporting the Dr Kim’s Charity Golf Tournament that is also held in Selebi Phikwe.

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BFA slow-stepping efforts in Wilson’s quest for citizenship?

18th March 2024

A quarter of a year ago, Zebras’ strategist, Didier Gomes Da Rosa, took a decisive step by enlisting midfielder Brandon Wilson, who flexes his soccer prowess at Ha Noi Football Club (FC) in Vietnam.

Yet, the 27-year-old sensation found himself benched before the game even started, due to his Australian nationality, despite his roots firmly planted in Gaborone, Botswana.

Fast forward to today, and Wilson’s name is still missing from the latest Zebras’ lineup for the forthcoming four-nation friendly extravaganza set to unfold in Madagascar.

Pundits from the local football arena argue that this tournament, starring The Zebras alongside Madagascar, Rwanda, and Burundi as hosts, presented a golden ticket for Wilson to unveil his skills, merge his playstyle with his teammates, and pass down his seasoned insights to the squad.

Looking ahead, The Zebras face a rugged path in their 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Group, battling titans like Algeria, Somalia, Guinea, and Uganda—teams studded with Europe-based talents. Integrating Wilson into the team now would be nothing short of strategic.

Amidst this saga, a ray of hope shined through a High Court ruling, suggesting the Botswana government’s nod towards dual citizenship, potentially giving the BFA the nudge it needed to expedite Wilson’s case.

Yet, as 2023 unfurls, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Anna Mokgethi, hinted at a six-month timeline to legislating this change. “We’re laying down the legal and procedural groundwork to enable dual citizenship. This process will span at least six months.

This waiting game could be pegged to aligning with the court of appeal’s decision.

“This buffer is designed to ensure a seamless transition, enabling talents like Wilson to clinch their Botswana passports and don the Zebras jersey,”

On the V.League 1 Table (Vietnam) – 2023/24 front, Wilson’s squad, Ha Noi FC, is holding sixth place after 13 showdowns, boasting 19 points—a commendable feat for their freshman year in Vietnam’s Elite League.

Since his leap to Ha Noi FC on September 5, 2023, Wilson has left his mark on 15 matches across domestic and AFC Champions League arenas, an impressive feat for his inaugural season.

In a recent WeekendSport dialogue, Da Rosa sung praises of Wilson’s gameplay. “Wilson’s mastery of the field, his spatial awareness, and ball reception, earmark him as a midfield marvel. His strategic positioning is a lesson in discipline, a skill set our team can greatly benefit from.

“He’s a crucial cog in our quest toward the 2026 World Cup dream,” Da Rosa said.

 

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Kemoeng’s departure opens doors for School sports – BOSETU

18th March 2024

The departure of Kitso Kemoeng from the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture has been met with a sigh of relief by many, particularly by the Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU). Kemoeng’s tenure as Permanent Secretary was marked by a lack of progress and engagement on the issue of reinstating school sports, which has been a crucial aspect of child development in Botswana.

BOSETU had accused Kemoeng of being a stumbling block to the resuscitation of school sports, citing his arrogant and anti-engagement attitude towards the issue. His transfer to the Botswana Public Service College has been seen as a positive development by the union, as it signals a clear message that non-delivery and lack of vision will not be tolerated within the government.

The union has expressed confidence in the new Permanent Secretary, Bright John, who is expected to bring a fresh perspective and understanding of the importance of sports and culture in the holistic development of children. The absence of school sports in Botswana has had a detrimental impact on the youth and the development of sports in the country, and it is imperative that immediate action is taken to reinstate these programs.

According to BOSETU the departure of Kemoeng from the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture is a step in the right direction towards reviving school sports in Botswana. The union and other stakeholders are hopeful that under the leadership of Bright John, progress will be made in ensuring the well-being and development of the youth through sports. It is time to breathe a sign of relief and look forward to a brighter future for school sports in Botswana.

 

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Sport

Will Makhwengwe’s exit halt Tafic’s remarkable streak?

24th February 2024

The abrupt severance of ties between Tafic Football Club and its erstwhile commander-in-chief, Philemon Makhwengwe, colloquially celebrated as the “Spin Doctor”, has sent ripples through the football aficionado community, given his laudable stewardship in the 2023/24 Botswana Premier League (BPL) crusade. The narrative of Matjimenyenga, as Tafic is affectionately dubbed, narrates a saga of resilience, having faced the ignominy of relegation to the Debswana First Division North on two occasions prior.

The chronicle of their fall from grace in 2018, settling at a dismal 14th place with a record marred by more losses than victories, delineates a club in dire need of strategic revival. Fast-forward to the present campaign, and the transformation under Makhwengwe’s aegis has been nothing short of remarkable. At the cessation of 16 rounds, Tafic perched at the fifth position with 24 points is a testament to an emboldened renaissance.

However, the plot thickened on the 20th of February, 2024, as Tafic pronounced the departure of Makhwengwe from his coaching pedestal via a Facebook communiqué, a move that bewildered the football-watching public. Discrepancies surfaced, with reports attributing his departure to discord with the club’s upper echelons over proposed adjustments within the technical team, painting a picture of internal discord.

Makhwengwe, a tactician revered for his prowess in architecting footballing triumphs, has been instrumental in Tafic’s ascent from the quagmire of league standings to a commendable sixth position. This leaves the footballing realm in suspense over Tafic’s trajectory post-Makhwengwe, especially after their recent conquest over Gaborone United, thrusting them into a formidable league position.

Amidst this backdrop of controversy, where Makhwengwe’s own assertions conflict with the official narrative – oscillating between resignation and dismissal – the saga unfolds with layers of intrigue. The spectacle calls into question the capacity of Tafic to sustain their impressive run. The precedence set by Cote D’Ivoire’s astonishing turnaround at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a managerial upheaval offers a glimmer of unpredictability inherent in football, though juxtaposing club football dynamics with international fixtures holds its own set of complexities.

As Tafic grapples with the loss of one of Botswana’s most esteemed coaching figures, the overarching question looms: How will this episode influence their fortunes as the season wades into its critical junctures? With the BPL already witnessing a carousel of coaching departures, Tafic’s saga adds a compelling chapter to the unfolding narrative of a league characterized by flux and fervor. The departure of Makhwengwe not only marks a pivotal moment for Tafic but underscores the perennial dance between stability and upheaval in the quest for footballing glory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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