Chiefs finally win Moyana battle
Sport
The National Appeals Board of the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) has finally sent some delight in the way of Mochudi Centre Chiefs camp after categorically declaring that ‘want away’ player Galabgwe Moyana is, in fact, their player.
The player has over the months incited a bitter tussle between rivals Township Rollers and Mochudi Center Chiefs, both claiming his signature. The status committee which was asked to sit on the ensuing case after Moyana erred by signing contracts with both clubs, judged that the former Notwane winger was a free agent, in the process giving the defending champions a life line to recruit him to their camp.
On the other hand, Magosi felt aggrieved and knocked on the doors of the appeals board, who have since set the record straight. According to the judgement of appeals board delivered on Tuesday this week, the status committee had pathetically erred in their deliberations and had failed to deal with the status of the player, even before his move to South African side Polokwane City, last season.
WeekendSport has perused the 10 paged judgement and found that appeals board has repeatedly punched holes in the initial decision of the Players’ Status Committee. Furthermore, both Galabgwe Moyana and Township Rollers (cited as respondent) have been swiped by the board, being accused of negotiating behind the back of Centre Chiefs.
It was discovered that ‘Galaxy’ as he is affectionately known, was first registered as a Chiefs player on the 1st of October 2010 and his contract did not expire until December of 2013. It came to the fore that six months before the contract elapsed, both the player and the club entered into a further written contract on the 7th of June 2013. The contract was to terminate on 31st May 2015.
However, in a most shrouded way, Moyana was made to sign another contract with Rollers three days later. Such a contract was to expire on the 31st of June 2016. To further complicate matters, Township Rollers on the same date of June 2013, furnished Chiefs with a letter seeking permission to approach their player, Moyana.
However, although the letter was copied to league committee, there was never evidence that such permission was given. It would seem that Rollers was piling pressure on Moyana because on the very day he signed a contract with Rollers, he also wrote to Chiefs requesting a copy of his contract, but reasons were not proffered.
It has emerged that Chiefs then responded to the player reminding him that he has a binding contract with them. It is for that reason that Chiefs pressed forward and entered into a memorandum of understanding with Polokwane City for Moyana’s international transfer.
The transfer was to start in June 1st 2013 and end in July 2014. Procedurally, the appeals board found out that the player’s transfer was duly facilitated by BFA. But after successfully completing his stay at Polokwane, Moyana on the 7th of August contacted Chiefs requesting to be furnished with his written contract before a loan move was initiated. The appeals board further observed that on 18th of August, Rollers wrote to Chiefs requesting for permission to talk to Moyana, which Chiefs duly responded with a negative answer.
The appeals board picked that there was no innocence on the part of Rollers because they had already signed a contract with the player even before asking for permission from Chiefs.
“In addition, the fact that the respondent and the player had signed the contract was not disclosed to the appellant (Chiefs). As such, the letter seeking approval was self seeking and it did not at all have the colour of good faith about it.” Reads part of the judgement.
More scorn was poured on Rollers that the high riding club knew all along that they could enter into a contract with the player if they had been allowed to talk to him and his release approved by Chiefs. “When they wrote on 10th June 2013 seeking approval, they knew that they had on the same day, already signed a contract with the player,” the judgement observed.
Chiefs was represented by both Clifford Mogomotsi and Raymond Tsheko while Rollers relied on the brains of Kgosietsile Ngakayagae.
Moyana’s timeline of events
1st October 2010
Signed 3 year contract with Chiefs
7th June 2013
Extended his contract for further 2 years
10th June 2013
Signed another new contract with Rollers
Rollers approached Chiefs for permission to talk with Moyana
Moyana contacted Chiefs requesting a copy of the contract
June 2013- 1st July 2014
Player’s transfer was facilitated and was in action
7th August 2014
Asked Chiefs to furnish him with a written contract before his loan move was initiated
18th August 2014
Rollers again approached Chiefs for permission to talk with Moyana
19th August 2014
Chiefs responded to Rollers letter
Moyana asked Chiefs to release his registration book to Rollers
20th August 2014
Status committee was asked to sit on his case
14th October 2014
Status committee ruled that Moyana is a free agent and that Chiefs sat on their right to recall him from Polokwane City
16th November 2014
After appealing the case, Moyana was declared a Chiefs player
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.”