Rollers courts Danish coach
Sport
DOWN AND OUT: Madinda Ndlovu has left the club and the management ponders on the next coach
Just a few days after parting ways with Madinda Ndlovu, troubled Township Rollers management are set for talks with Denmark born mentor Flemming Serritslev about becoming their next coach, WeekendSport has learnt.
The club that is still reeling from shock after failing to win the Mascom top 8 tournament for two consecutive years is believed to have contacted Serritslev before the top 8 final with Gaborone United, and an appointment is likely to be announced before the end of the season.
Serritslev who was spotted and photographed in the company of one of Rollers’ major shareholders’ Somerset Gobuiwang this week, falls on the radar of the club following an irreconcilable difference witnessed at the board level.
Information gleaned from various inside sources indicates that Madinda Ndlovu had developed a big ego that stretched deeper to further divide both of Rollers kingpins, Somerset and Jadgdish Shah. It is reported that his contract was never going to be renewed even if he had won the top 8 tournament because Gobuiwang himself was fed up with his ‘dealings’ inside the club.
Serritslev’s recruitment is believed to be a strategy to neutralise the team‘s camp. Sources inside Palestine revealed that players, for a long time now, were planning to revolt against Somerset yet remaining faithful to Shah because of his ability to dangle bigger carrots in front of them.
The Danish coach ‘s curriculum vitae is said to have been shelved at Popa to wait for caretaker coach Teenage Mpote to round off Rollers’ disastrous season (by their standards). Should all go according to plan, Mpote who has now adapted the team ‘s culture is likely to assist Serritslev since one of Madinda Ndlovu’s right hand men, Zacharia Mudzadzi has also been shown the door.
According to records, Serritslev was once the assistant coach of Denmark Football Federation and had recently showed keen interest in the post of technical director of the Ghana association. The Danish however was rejected after short interviews.
Rollers are said to be attracted to the Danish because of his impressive stewardship of some of his home clubs, including, his personable manner. By all accounts, Serritslev is regarded as a players' coach, described as more humble and possessing the ability to man-manage players to keep them onside and coax winning displays from them.
The appointment of Serritslev brings Rollers coaches to four, just in five seasons. The struggle to defend the title is however expected to continue until the last day of the season. The team faces a serious risk of ending the season without trophies despite their healthy start.
Nobody holding a senior post at the club is willing to discuss the future of the coming coach let alone the legacy of Madinda Ndlovu. Secretary General of the club Khumoyaone Masonya when contacted claimed to be in the dark about the Danish coach. “I do not know anything about him, its news to me,” he said.
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.
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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.”