Green Lovers’ Ralesota set to join GU
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WANTED PLAYER: Moathodi Ralesota
Gaborone United Sporting Club has managed to capture the signature of the on-demand Green Lovers marksman, Moathodi “Sissoko” Ralesota for a period of two and a half years with an option of renewal, ahead of other football vultures, Weekendsport can reveal.
In an unexpected twist of events this week, the player who has been highly linked with Extension Gunners with other “big” teams also giving him sleepless nights with offers, the 24 year old opted to sign for the Reds.
However, he will only don the red and white colours of the Old Naledi side when the January transfer window kicks in. While Gunners has been wagging their tail expecting the striker to land in Peleng early next year, those in the know tell a different story. It is said the player has deep adoration for Gaborone United, Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Jwaneng Galaxy, something which presented a blur picture on the prospects of him joining Mapantsula.
According to reports from impeccable sources, the player is currently playing without a contract at the Green Marines of Serowe, the only team he has played for, a catalyst which encouraged the Reds to snatch away the lethal striker. Although the deal between the two parties is a closely guarded secret, this publication is informed that the Serowe born talisman will get a monthly salary of P9000 and other allowances which would hike his take home to around P 16000.
Since the player has been schooling In Serowe, what will GU do to assist him in the academics or he is now focusing in football? “ I am not sure, but the contract seems to be silent about academics but it appears he will enrol with BSET because he has graduated and indications are that he will continue with the school,’’ a source who witnessed the development said. The clinical finisher has been doing trade C in Mechanical Engineering at a Brigade and now he is set to do NCC in the capital city.
When GU Chairman, Rapula Okailwe was contacted to confirm the development he said “I am clueless about what you are talking about, but as we go closer to the January window maybe we would be interested in signing some players.” Sources however maintain that Okailwe, together with the team financier, Nicholas Zarkhem where seen with the player in the boardroom.
Ralesota, the current leading scorer of the rookies Lovers and the highest scorer in the elite league will leave a huge void at the rookies as he is the only reliable striker in the books of Onthusitse “Chips” Kootswele. He has also made history by being the first Green Lovers players to represent the nation on the Independence Day. His value as a player has since rocketed ever since he took the premier league by storm upon their promotion which also saw him being voted player of the month in August. In fact he alerted the teams of his talent in the promotional play-offs against Mogoditshane Fighters where he scored to ensure his team qualify for the elite league.
At the reds and the colourful where the player is destined, will he get the game time he has been enjoying at Green Marines? GU has their prolific striker in the Namibian Benson “Ma-fifty” Shilongo and they have also signed the Ghanaian man Appiah and Hendrick “Mopapa” Moyo. This should not put the man who is synonymous with Jersey no 10 under threat as he is more like a traditional number 9 unlike Moyo and the Ghanaian striker who are mobile; he will sweat for the starting berth with the Namibian.
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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.”