Sesinyi’s paper trail saga
Sport
The story of former Orapa United talisman, Thabang Sesinyi, unpacks a sorry case of three teams claiming ownership of a player and hampering his dream move to South African premier league rookies, Baroka FC, which could have long been successful.
Having impressed at the South African showpiece COSAFA Castle cup, Sesinyi rightfully caught the eye of the Baroka FC recruiting team and his local club Orapa United was on the know. A report was made that the talented young player was on the verge of joining Baroka, but the arrival of Pilikwe United, a team he has horned his playing skills from tender age entered the phase.
According to information gleaned from various sources, Sesinyi never signed a binding contract with Orapa United and was being paid by the Mascom top 8 Champions on appearance agreements. His coming to Orapa was solely to advance his educational dream. He was therefore, studying apprenticeship but had to be loaned to Orapa United owing to his blossoming football talent.
At the end of the last football season, Sesinyi approached the management of Orapa United to be offered a contract as he felt the match appearance fee was nothing to go by. According to information from Orapa, they gladly agreed and on June of this year, the striker put pen to paper.
While Orapa United is accused of pressuring the young man and possibly giving out information that favours them, there is a school of thought that they knew the player had a legal binding agreement with either Field Masters or Pilikwe United.
Orapa United maintained that they got the player’s registration from Field Masters but Pilikwe United, co owned by veteran football administrator, Fobby Radipotsane, claims that Sesinyi is their property and United knows all about it.
When negotiating with Baroka FC to sign the player, Pilikwe United believed they deserved a share of the transfer finances as they have developed him. There has been talk that Orapa United has failed to produce Sesinyi’s contract to Baroka FC, but Orapa United have since downplayed the report as baseless and misleading.
Five days ago, Sesinyi wrote to Orapa United to ask to be released from the club. The player also quit his studies and new development is that he has been loaned to Mochudi Center Chiefs, not by Orapa United but by Fobby’s team. All the while Orapa United admit to have released the player as per his wishes.
The fight for the player has seen his move to Baroka FC collapse frantically although Fobby concedes it is still valid.
"We are waiting for the cancellation of the contract, if possible. That's when the boy can sign with a local club. His agent is still negotiating with Baroka,” Fobby was quoted as saying.
Allegedly there is a fight for close to P150 000 should the player successfully move to Baroka FC.
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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.
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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.”