Nothing to lose against Mali – Butler
Sport
Despite having eliminated the minnows Eritrea in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, national coach, Peter Butler isn’t at all excited, in fact he still fancies the chances of his team qualifying for the world cup as best as slim.
The local side beat the visiting Eritrea 3-1 on Tuesday night at Francistown to make the aggregate 5-1 following a 2-0 win in Asmara last Saturday. The ‘mighty’ Zebras will now face off against a tough side in Mali in the next phase of the qualifiers and should they win, they will play in the group stages which are expected to be made up of continental football heavyweights.
Amid fanfare at the new Zebras’ ‘slaughter house’; the Francistown Sports complex, the Briton gaffer cautioned against the buoyancy.
“Probably the chances of us qualifying for the world cup are very slim, aren’t they”? The maverick mentor asked reporters rhetorically after the game. With the local boys impressive performance under the floodlights and patriotic 15,378 fans of the second city, some are already romanced to believe that indeed Botswana can also make a cut to Russia.
According to journalist, Leatile Mmutle, “football is not about just kicking the ball, there is a psychological part and this can cost us if the players would know they won’t go any far.”
The coach however could not predict whether the journey will end against Mali or in the group stages. Butler’s words could help remove the burden from the boys’ shoulders because they know they have nothing to lose. But against Mali it will be a litmus test to both the team and bedzimo ba-ka Nswazwi as the team has never lost a match at the Ghetto.
In the three occasions the two nations met, Zebras lost all games, as they lost 1-2 (AFCON 2012 group stages), 0-3, 1-4 both legs in the 2013 AFCON qualifiers. Judging by history, Butler could be right as he is choosing to be more realistic, but maybe as Mmutle has said, it was a suicidal revelation.
Butler, Mogorosi on the wasteful Moyo
Hendrick “Mopapa” Moyo who missed a lot of clear cut chances on Tuesday and in the past against Burkina Faso has been crucified by many supporters who are calling for his replacement; however the coach has come to his defence. “I believe he is great player and I don’t listen to the fans but rather to my technical team and players to make decisions,” Butler said.
Moyo has been playing well but finding the back of the net has been his only vice. The Matobo striker keeps the defenders on their toes for the whole game with his pace, endurance and ability to take them on. On Tuesday night, he missed a lot of them but gave the team shape going forward. His striking partner and Captain Joel “Fire” Mogorosi said “it is part of the game you miss some and score some but we encourage him to keep on taking those chances, one day he will score.”
Sport
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.
Sport
Big Guns for Botswana Grand Prix
The National Stadium will be lit up with fireworks on April 29, 2023, as some of the best international athletes will participate in the maiden Botswana Grand prix.
This content is locked
Login To Unlock The Content!
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.”