BoBA Executive committee in shambles
Sport
Sport Development Officer (SDO) Khumiso Ikgopoleng
Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) executive committee Vice President Tabona Phaladzi and the sport development officer (SDO) Khumiso Ikgopoleng are expected to resign from the BoBA, WeekendSport has learnt.
Some committee members and military bosses are said to be pushing for Phaladzi’s resignation. Reports say, the BDF top brass is not happy with the way the VP ascended to the second influential post in boxing as ‘’he did not follow the necessary procedure when vying for the post’’.
This has left the boxing committee divided as his sympathizers argue that before the association amended the constitution to fuse the VP technical and Administration posts, Phaladzi was serving boxing as the VP administration.
However, his adversaries who have long called for his resignation have said questioned his pro-efficiencies. They have labeled him the slowest wheel in the BoBA committee whose presence could lead to the failure of the whole committee at the end of their term.
‘’We were supposed to have had an interclub tournament in Gantsi but that has not happened and no reasons have been advanced as to why, and without the VP no tournament will be staged,’’ one affiliate said.
The Secretary General in the committee, Irene Ntelamo and the treasurer Frank Chigutsi have been counted among those who don’t want to share the boardroom with him. Meanwhile the search for his replacement has begun. The committee is said to be ‘’looking for someone who is technically sound” because currently most of the members are not technically enabled.
BoBA is said to have started to manhunt someone who can possibly fill the impending void and all the cardinals are pointing at the former VP technical Gilbert Khunwane. The former technical boss is highly rated in boxing as he has an AIBA international license that allows him to mentor anywhere in the world, and understands the International boxing body regulations better than any local.
Other reports suggest that the former boxer and current SDO Ikgopoleng will soon leave BoBA after finding green pastures in United Kingdom. This is expected to further widen the technical gap which could see the sport failing to produce young pugilists like Mohamed Otukile and Keamogetse Kenosi.
When BoBA President was contacted he referred this writer to the mouthpiece Kenny Maragana who only said, ‘’ those are personal matters between employee and employer and I cannot dwell much on those reports.’’
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.
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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.”