Gunners in talks with Chico
Sport
Lobatse based Extension Gunners is reported to be in talks with former coach, Daniel ‘Chico’ Nare about the possibility of succeeding Keitumetse ‘Pio’Paul who is currently on suspension.
The troubled Peleng outfit‘s eagerness to reunite with Nare this season would not be deflected even if the club is divided on the way forward.
Despite the club's very secret courting of its former coach in the aftermath of the fall of controversial yet talented young Pio Paul, there remains the possibility that Oris Radipotsane could compete for the post as he too, is club-less after Jwaneng Galaxy gave him the boot a week ago.
Gunners, too, continue to sound out candidates. Though Nare is understood to be confident he will return to the club he adores most- where he spent a trophy-barren turbulent spell of a little over few seasons.
The possibility that Gunners, currently seventh in the Premier League under the interim stewardship of Aupa Kowa, may not mount a serious challenge for this year top 8 tournament had been mooted as a potential obstacle to Nare's return.
While that would have serious and or little implications for the club's attempts to balance the books where finances is sometimes an issue, sources close to the negotiations have suggested Chico would actually not be discouraged from joining the side should the team fail to climb the league log again. Indeed, he could consider it an even greater challenge.
Nevertheless, with reports saying he has buried the hatchet with Gunners management, other obstacles still need to be cleared if his desire to return to the club materialise. Principal among his concerns is the amount of power he would be permitted to wield at the Peleng side, reports suggest.
The sudden fall out he had with Gunners management of course turned a few heads, although he did not want to admit it at the time, he was equally frustrated. And if he is to return, Nare would have to accept the existing structure in place at the club particularly that little has changed after his departure.
It remains to be seen whether the coach will accept the Gunners hierarchy, despite the acceptance that further significant squad strengthening will take place in the next coming transfer window. Reinforcements however have been made in the central midfield and with the addition of a back-up goalkeeper. Moemedi Moatlhaping, the stalwart midfielder-cum striker who has been instrumental to their rise has returned to the club after a confusion to extend his contract played itself out.
While Gunners will only publicly address the coach situation once the issue with Paul is complete, discussions have been taking place for some time behind the scenes and the club has sounded out potential replacements for Pio who will be the fourth coach to be sacked by the club. The former BMC FC and Letlapeng mentor is understood to be top of their list, although another local coach Oris Radipotsane has been contacted.
When reached for comment, Nare distanced himself from reports linking him to Gunners. “I do not know anything, I am currently enjoying my rest at home,” he said.
Reports linking Nare with Gunners follow rumours that have been doing the rounds lately that the team management was seriously considering re-employing Nare as the technical director. This was before Pio and Gunners’ irreconcilable differences gathered momentum.
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
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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.”