BAA meets BNSC over CEO enlistment
Sport
The dilly-dallying by Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) officials to assign a CEO to the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) has the athletics leadership in arms as they now demand answers over the delay.
At the Association’s closed meeting on the 7th of this month, the issue of the impending CEO dominated the proceedings, WeekendSport has learnt. BAA has since last year been waiting on the promise of the CEO, as was guaranteed by the BNSC, and are now worrying as BNSC has gone mum on the matter.
The development has as a result compelled BAA to call a meeting with BNSC so they will be given an update on the issue at a date which is yet to be announced. “We should meet with the Sports Commission so they tell us about what could be causing the delay,” association mouthpiece Roland Masalila told this publication.
The CEO, who according to reports was going to be ex-BNSC acting Chief, Thato Kgosimore is expected to take over as CEO and spearhead the commercialisation pursued by the association.
BAA rejects Kgosimore
While the BAA wants the BNSC to explain what could be delaying the appointment of the CEO, reports indicate that athletics officials are against the endorsement of Kgosimore as the CEO. It is said that the top dogs at the athletics offices are not his admirers more especially that he has been involved in the politics of the sporting industry.
The BAA top brass believe the former BNSC acting CEO will bring unnecessary division within the committee and as a result they want someone who has not been in the politics of sports but who is business minded and can transform athletics locally. However the BAA are treading carefully on the matter as they want the BNSC to appoint him as they will be paying his monthly salary, but after their budget is approved they will manhunt for their ideal person.
At the proposed meeting, BAA is expected to bring up another issue for discussion with their overseer-budget. According to Masalila in the said meeting they also take into consideration the fact that with a new CEO, their expenditure will increase. The budget for the secretariat alone is expected to be P5 million with the budget expected to rise when activities of the year are covered.
“So we are expecting our budget to be increased considerably so we can to meet our target and dreams as you know this is a hectic year,” the media liaison added. This is year one of the biggest events for the BAA calendar as there will be the Olympics and preparations should be starting as early as possible since the BAA has ambitions of increasing their medals. One medal was won by Nijel Amos in the 2012 Olympics.
BAA, also have in their wish list a coach as they plan on increasing their medal tally at the next Games, but this will be determined by the budget BNSC gives them. “It is our wish to have personnel like that but I can’t dwell much on it for now though it is our wish,” Masalila said. However the association Vice President Glody Dube has maintained that they will hire the coach soon.
Another issue that was discussed at the meeting was the touted millionaire who is expected to donate millions to the Association expected next week. According to the BAA office the American donor will send two representatives to meet BNSC officials. “They wanted us to include the BNSC so they are here to finalize the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with them. Again the project scope might change because now other party has been included,” said Masalila.
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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.”