What about field events and jumps athletes?
Sport
Tapping into different sporting codes such as jumps (long jump, high jumps and triple) and field events (Discus, shot put, javelin and pole vault) is ideal for any country as it put them in better chance to rake more medals at various international competition such as the just ended World Championships which were held in Budapest, Hungary.
In the closer proximity, for a few years field events and jumps athletes have been struggling to qualify for international competitions, which prompt a question as to how far is Botswana with regards to the growth of jumps and field events.
A great example would be at the recently ended World Champs, Burkina Faso’s Hugues Fabrice Zango made history by winning his nation’s first-ever gold medal at the World Athletics Championships with victory in the triple jump.
The 30-year-old jumped 17.64 metres in his fifth attempt to see the competition in Budapest, Hungary.
In addition, as much as focus and hope was being put on few local runners, Letsile Tebogo who bagged a silver medal in his 100m and a bronze in a tightly contested 200m, the same could not be said by the trio, Leungo Scotch, Collen Kebinatshipi and Bayapo Ndori whom their hopes of amassing medals blurred as the competition progressed.
Scotch and Kebinatshipi finished eighth and nineth in their respective heats to crush out of World Champs semi-finals while Ndori pulled out of the race just after 25m from the start, which meant that the country’s opportunity to get more medals reduced.
Historically, The country achieved its first gold medal, in the men’s high jump, in 2003.
Furthermore, high jumpers such as Kabelo Kgosiemang can be remembered as he rose to the occasion.
Kgosiemang broke the ground record with his jump of 2.27 metres (7 ft 5 in) in 2007, while his second gold medal came some 12 years later in 2015.
Nonetheless, where was the continuity as it seemed like there was light at the end of the tunnel?
For his part, Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) Vice-President (responsible for) Technical, Kenneth Kikwe said Botswana’s strengths in field events and jumps has downgraded over the years.
“We have realized that our strengths in field events and jumps have downgraded and it is something that we are tirelessly working around to improve.
Furthermore, the biggest factor is that we do not have coaches who are professionally trained to induct aspirant field events and jumps athletes.
However, we currently have a former high jumper, Kgosiemang who is helping in that regard but we are contemplating to equip him with the right qualifications for the job,” he said.
Kikwe further revealed that they haven’t been able to bring international coaches who could upskill our field events and jump athletes like in the past as having these particular athletes is vital to any country’s progress in sport.
“We used to have international coaches who helped us with developing field events and jumpers hence why we saw the likes of Kgosiemang and Gable Garenamotse who blossomed during their respective years.
Nevertheless – we plan to redeem ourselves by hosting workshops, and inducting coaches who can develop athletes for the greater good of the country,” Kikwe revealed.
On the other hand, Local Sport Pundit, Kagiso ‘Fox’ Phatsimo was quickly to point out some of the biggest problems faced by Botswana sport.
“The biggest problem we face when we produce these world beaters, their cases are few and far between as we do not have a formula to produce these individuals.
It always comes as a surprise. If we had a formula like it is always said that we have School of Excellence, there could be a route from primary, secondary and senior school with a development that is strategically placed with a proper coach to teach our kids track and field events.
Henceforth, feeding the national team with raw talent that is ready to take on the world, however, it has not been the case,” he said.
Phatsimo further added Botswana do not have a concise plan as how to nurture these world beaters.
“If we were able to produce ‘Letsile Tebogo’ how come we do not have others who as good as him or even on the ladies’ section that shines in individual events and ultimately become world beaters,” added Phatsimo.
He reiterated that it is about the country capacitate coaches at Junior and Senior schools because their credentials are below standard.
“We need to identify talent from grassroots hence it is vital to give incentives to highly qualified coaches so that they can focus on building this raw talent from an early stage in remote areas thus benefiting in future.
Furthermore, relevant stakeholders such as the government, teachers’ unions, Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) and its affiliates should convene and resolve the issue of school sports or its going take a while for us to produce stars such as Letsile Tebogo,” he reiterated.
Sport
Athletes confront Minister Rakgare
Local athletes, Zibane Ngozi and Letsile Tebogo have confronted Minister of Youth, Gender and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare citing lack of support during preparations.
Speaking at the World Champs team Welcome Ceremony on Wednesday, the 4 x 400m relay specialist and Team Captain, Ngozi urged some of the government officials inclusive of Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) representative, Rakgare to attend these high-profile competitions to witness the hardships they go through during these competitions.
“People need to understand it is not easy for us when we arrive at the World stage, there is a lot that is going on hence we need support in order for us to succeed as expected.
However, I am happy that immediately when I arrived in Botswana, BNSC credited our allowances which was a good thing because we had lots of debts (jokingly) thus we manage to settle them,” he said.
On the other hand, Tebogo who brought home two medals (silver and bronze) from 100m and 200m respectively at the World Champs said most athletes are going through depression due unfavorable conditions.
“Most of us going through depression because we lack support during preparations, we are only celebrated when we win but in hard times we are forgotten. Athletics is a difficult sport hence we need all the support we could to make it through and eventually amass medals as it is expected by our country,”
For his part, Rakgare admitted that local sport is faced with challenges, including but not limited to a tough sponsorship environment, limited or no sport in public schools, doping and leadership instability.
“I would of course be surprised if anyone of you would not agree with me that notwithstanding the challenges, we continue to achieve unprecedented results in sport, and the year to date is no exception,” he said.
Rakgare gave special recognition to Oratile Rose Nowe for heroics at the World Champs, “I would like to take this opportunity and congratulate Nowe for attaining a new personal best 2:01.62 in Women’s 800m, which also happens to be a national record. By the way, Oratile is the first Motswana woman to ever qualify for the World Championships in middle distance running.”
According to Rakgare, Government, recognizes athletes’ achievements at any and every competition, and that is why most recently, they have rewarded them at the Youth and Sport Awards.
“I would like to thank the Government of Botswana for their investment in sport. We continue to pride ourselves in being one of the best funders of sport per capita, and as indicated earlier, we are not intending to slow down anytime soon,”
On a lighter note, World Champs BW Team was rewarded by various companies such as Debswana, Choppies, Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) and also government as a token of appreciation for participating in Hungary.
Tebogo was rewarded with P560 000 from Debswana, Choppies and BPC for bringing two medals home, 4 x 400m men relay finalists (Ngozi, Baboloki Thebe, Laone Ditshetelo and Leungo were given P25 000 apiece for reaching the finals and participating by Debswana; while ladies (Tlhomphang Basele, Golekanye Chikani, Lydia Jele, Oratile Nowe, Galefele Moroko, Obakeng Kamberuka were given P10 000 each for participation.
In addition, the World Champs team amassed P926 000.00 of which P250 000 would go to Tebogo and the remaining P676 000 will be shared amongst the rest of the team.
Sport
BONA to host 2023 Africa Netball Cup
With several local associations currently going through a rough patch in terms of financial quagmires, Botswana Netball Association (BONA) Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mokeresete Mokeresete is optimistic to host the 2023 Africa Netball Cup as per the request from African Netball Board (Executive Committee) because Uganda has pulled out.
Will it be successful or finally quench the thirst of competing internationally?
The African Netball Championships or Africa Netball Cup are a netball competition held every after two years with teams from across Africa competing for the top price.
BONA National team competed in the last edition of the Africa Netball Cup which was held in 2021 in Namibia and they finished in position seven which was average.
Last time BONA hosted an event of this magnitude was the 2017 Netball Youth World Cup which was indeed a success even though the local team (Dinaletsana) finished in position 10.
One would have thought that the Dinaletsana team which looked promising would eventually go on and conquer the world in the following international competitions. However, that has not been the case as they struggled to qualify for the recent World Cup which was held in the neighboring South Africa.
In addition, the Botswana Netball League was last played in November 2022 and in 2023 they hosted a Fast Five Netball Cup just before the Netball World Cup.
In an interview with WeekendSport this week, BONA Public Relations Officer (PRO) said they have accepted to host the 2023 Africa Netball Cup following the pulling out of Uganda.
“We have recently accepted a request to the 2023 Africa Netball Cup, however – we are still working on finalizing all the logistics that will be in play as you are aware that hosting an event requires a budget which might be difficult because we were given a smaller potion in the recent financial year.
Furthermore, we are yet to come up with a consolidated budget which could help us map a way forward as we really want to stage this particular competition. It is vital for us to host this competition as we want to revitalize local netball, we want to attract more for the league,” said Mokeresete Mokeresete.
MORE NETBALL ACTION AHEAD?
Mokeresete further hinted that the upcoming Independence Cup will be preparatory tournament for the upcoming Africa Netball Cup.
“We are going to host the Independence Cup of which we are expected at least 16 ladies’ teams and a few of male’ teams as we are still swiftly introducing the male section to the sport in Orapa.
However, prior to the action we are going conduct courses for match officials, technical official and coaches’ beginners’ level 1 courses as an effort of improve the standards of the sporting code,” hinted Mokeresete.
MISSING THE RECENT NETBALL WORLD CUP WAS CATASTROPHIC
According to BONA PRO, missing the recent Netball World Cup was catastrophic as players missed out on an opportunity to showcase their talents on the world stage which was bound to garner those deals to more professional countries in terms of Netball.
“We are seeing lots of movement for players from countries like Zimbabwe which is remarkable and that could have happened for our player – but it wasn’t to be as we did not qualify for the main event.
Moreover, through the World Cup Legacy Program, we have been awarded a sprung board and we are contention to transport it from South Africa to the country as one of the requirements to host a sporting event is to have a sprung floor,”
Meanwhile, the 2023 Africa Netball Cup is scheduled between November 26 – October 06 2023 at University of Botswana (UB) Indoor Sports Arena.
Sport
Ex GU official alleges racial politics
There is a possibility of discomfort within the Gaborone United technical team following a squabble between former team manager Owe Mmolawa and Peter Butler who is Director of Football over allegations of racial discrimination.
The duo is reported to have had a fall out last month on the flight from Madagascar after Gaborone United sealed a 3-1 win against Elgeco Plus to set a clash with Dstv premiership side, Supersport United in the second round of the preliminary stages of CAF Confederation Cup.
However, WeekendSport was reliably informed that the management of the club swiftly redeployed Mmolawa to become ladies team manager, a position which he rejected and ultimately resigned from the club on the 31st August. Sources claim that the relationship between Butler and Mmolawa had broken down irreparably.
According to the highly placed sources, since the arrival of the British coach at Moyagoleele, Mmolawa was sidelined and it is alleged that Butler started to give him (Mmolawa) an attitude. Others speculate that the master plan is get rid of Coach Pontsho Moloi so that Butler gets the head coach post.
According to a letter seen by this publication – Mmolawa wrote to the Regional Immigration Selection board on the 5th September contesting or seeking an interdict on awarding a substantive residential and work permit to Mr. Peter Butler.
According to the former Gaborone United team manager, “As per the Immigration Act, in particular, Section 19, Clause 4(a), the character of Mr. Butler lacks the rudimentary qualification on the basis of racial discrimination allegations levelled against him. The allegations have been reported to the continental football mother body (CAF) for investigation and determination thereof. The complaint has been lodged by me.”
Mmolawa further said although Butler who is employed as Director of Football of which the qualification requirements for the job include amongst others possession of a CAF A coaching certificate – there is a plethora of local who holds the same qualification.
The fundamental uptake of foreign nationals for employment is that it should be on account of scarce skills or justification for the same.
He therefore said he contended strongly that the application for work permit be declined for Mr. Butler as there are many Batswana who have graduated with CAF A coaching certificate and fit enough to be considered for employment.
“Awarding work and residential permits to Mr. Butler on the basis of this job would be a fatal blow to the efforts of Botswana government in empowering its own citizens, in my solemn view. I raise that Mr.
Butler is prone and has a history of attacking the sovereignty of Botswana as evidenced by his spell away from the country when the football fraternity encountered governance changes. It would be tantamount to fiddling whilst Rome burns to look the away when a man of this character that lacks patriotic fabric seeks employment in Botswana,” reads part of the letter addressed to Secretary of regional Immigration Selection Board.
When reached for a comment relating to racial discrimination levelled by Owe Mmolawa to Mr. Butler, Gaborone United Marketing Manager Herbert Letsebe said as the club they currently don’t have any case bordering on racial discrimination. He said they have only seen social media posts by Owe Mmolawa.
“We as the club do not condone racial discrimination and if we record such case, serious action shall be taken for the offence,” he added.
Letsebe further said allegations between Owe Mmolawa and Butler could be personal hence it’s between the duo. He however confirmed that there was some altercation between the two, when the team was travelling from Madagascar to Botswana.