Nare dumps Gunners
Sport
Extension Gunners head coach, Daniel ‘Chico’ Nare, has relieved himself of the team duties on Thursday morning after spending a season at the helm of the Lobatse based club ‘s technical department.
Advertisements seen in some local newspapers indicate that Gunners is looking for a coach and an assistant coach where vetting will start after 17th March 2017. Nare however could not be drawn into discussing the issue and instead referred this publication to All Kasi, who administers the club’s business, but the new owners of the team, were equally reluctant to talk about the situation. Nonetheless, their decision to flaunt adverts in the media seeking a coach has given Nare enough reasons to worry about his future at the club.
Meanwhile Nare’s nightmare drags on; he was this week allowed to limp on as Gunners coach, with the club heading towards their painful scenario of him taking charge of the team for this weekend’s afternoon's match against log leaders Township Rollers, but indications are now clear that the gaffer will be side-lined.
Although Gunners’ patience has finally wilted away following a 1-0 loss home to Gaborone United, the perennial premier league campaigners are said to be at an advanced stage of letting Nare go. But Nare was said to be contemplating taking his job seriously still, with the Peleng side yet to issue any official statement regarding his pending dismissal and a firm interest to look for another coach almost immediately.
Before the club's pursuit of a new coach emerged, the plan was for Nare to end the season and then have a review at Gunners. Last season, Nare took over from the controversial Pio Paul, who also enjoyed a very short stint with the club. All Kasi who are also the technical sponsors of the club are said to be adamant that if a decision is taken at this point to let Nare go, there should be a candidate in place who has already agreed terms and would be ready to take over immediately to ensure Gunners at least stays within the top 8 brackets. When Nare took over from Paul, the same strategy was used. However, it is alleged that Nare has no running contract with the club, save for a gentleman’s agreement facilitated by the late Gunners chairman, Phenyo Gothaang.
Nare’s position grew more precarious after Gothaang’s death. The coach, reportedly, was endeared to the departed chairman. Further claims are that, since Nare’s arrival, supporters’ numbers continue to dwindle during matches. “They have always felt Nare was destroying their style of play hence players failing to cope,” a source disclosed.
After falling from the league summit and failing to stage convincing comebacks in the last two premier league encounters, this season's dismal campaign has convinced the board that Nare is no longer the man to lead the club. And his constant complaining about this season’s transfers, buys and the inability to play interesting football with costly investment in the squad were all telling factors in the club's decision to approach to entertain a second thought.
“We cannot discuss this issue now, we are still to sit down with the coach and map a way forward,” said All-kasi co-manager, Ludo Kemoeng. Gunners seek someone who is a players' coach, described as more humble and possessing the ability to man-manage players to keep them together and coax winning displays from them.
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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.”