Call for policy in wake of P650,000 pledge
A fortnight ago, the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC), Tumiso Rakgare pledged P650,000 towards the Zebras if they qualified for AFCON 2022. The pledge divided sport and National Sport Associations (NSA) are now calling f
The ministry has come under heavy criticism for its divide and rule when it comes to football and other national teams. The government would rather bend backwards and pull money out of any vote to motivate football during continental or regional tournaments.
That has not been the case when other national teams are preparing for international competitions such as Olympics.
This has seen calls grow for the establishment of an AWP, which many see as critical in clearing any ambiguities when it comes to remuneration of athletes taking part in national team activities at all levels. Botswana Tertiary School Sport Association (BOTESSA) president, Keorapetse Setlhare told Mmegi Sport that there are no reasons to say football is the number one sport in the country.
“All sport codes are equal. If we could have the Athletes Welfare Policy, which states the incentives that are due to athletes when they compete in different competitions, we would then avoid a situation where other codes feel others are given an upper hand. The AWP would benefit all codes.
Athletics is a popular code, people watch athletics in large numbers,” he said. Setlhare revealed that in other countries a bonus cannot just come from nowhere and that is why their sport is doing well.
He explained they have policies that apply across and they also have to use the tier system. He said the incentives also come with scholarships. “If we want to invest resources in sport it is possible. The Zebras
pledge is an indication that there is money. All we need is for our leaders to commit themselves. I hope going forward the Minister would inject funds into all the codes. Let us give him time,” he said. Botswana Cycling Association (BCA) secretary-general, Tlamelo Dube said one would not know what influenced the P650,000 decision amid lack of funding and freezing of sporting activities. “We could only hope that the same would be applied to other sporting codes.
Just wondering seeing that Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) is preparing for the Olympics coming in less than three months, one would wish to see the Minister sharing the budget reserved for preparations more so that is where our strength and hope for medals is coming from; athletics,” Dube said.
He noted that it is a dicey situation, adding that on the other side, it is fine for athletes who have been inactive, with some losing jobs, while others have gone unpaid.
However, Dube argued that instead of that being a bonus, the fact that they were in camp and playing these games they should be paid that money, whether they had qualified or not. Regarding the establishment of the AWP, Dube said it would have been an ideal situation so that all athletes benefit and such funds being accounted for.
“The question becomes who initiates and becomes the custodian of AWP? The idea has been there before but the custodian is always a problem if every funding comes from government,” he said. Botswana Netball Association (BONA) president, Malebo Raditladi said AWP should be there but believes that it should be introduced along with the national safeguarding policy.
Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) acting chief executive officer (CEO), Tuelo Serufho told the AWP it is necessary to facilitate a holistic approach to development. “We are presently finalising a draft.
The commission would be its custodian on behalf of the government,” Serufho said. For his part, MYSC permanent secretary, Kago Ramokate told Mmegi Sport that AWP is a BNSC responsibility and the ministry could only advise.