‘Scud’ launches all-out attack
The beginning of a new era in volleyball starts tomorrow as Tsoseletso ‘Scud’ Magang takes the Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) reins from Daniel Molaodi. The outgoing president is not seeking re-election after 13 years at the helm. Magang is a volleyball thoroughbred, having participated in all stages of the game.
“I am a volleyball person, having been a player and being in the administration. It does get to me when our sport is going through what it is currently going through. The reason being that I would like to see volleyball in the top tier. It should be because it is placed there because of its magnitude in terms of competition, in terms of our success both in competition and even the success of our structures and the individuals that are running the sport,” she said.
Magang said she is bringing in lessons that she has acquired from the 13 years since she left the sport when the outgoing leadership took over. She said during that time, she had the opportunity to serve on the Botswana Football Association (BFA) executive committee and the Botswana National Sport Committee (BNSC) board and even had a short stint as the vice-chairperson.
“The lessons that I have picked there, especially in terms of the running of sport. I believe I would be able to implement them in volleyball. We have not been paying attention to certain things like when it comes to running competitions. Our Local Organising Committee is totally dependent on the vice president-technical, taking the VP away from developing the sport. We have decided that the additional member should focus on competitions,” she said.
Magang said they want to make an impact in the lives of people who take part in volleyball.
She said it was unfortunate that volleyball has lost sponsors but that does not mean the partners have lost trust in the sport. Magang stated that it must be clear what the volleyball relationship is with their strategic partners such as the Botswana Integrated Sports Association, the Botswana Tertiary Student Sports Association, and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
“When we take advantage of their programmes and activities, it sets us well to be able to attract sponsors because we would be active. I want to bring back the glory and the publicity that volleyball enjoyed,” she said. Magang said it seems like she always comes into office when there is a problem.
“The last time I came in we were going through a recession but I was able to bring in a few sponsors. I am coming back again during a health pandemic and I intend to bring back sponsors (once again). When you have sponsors, you empower clubs,” Magang said. She said they need a strong communicator and the vice president-administrator should be able to
engage with people. Magang said her immediate responsibility together with her committee is to look at the volleyball strategic plan. She explained that they could not do anything without ensuring that they have set out a plan that can get them to achieve their intention, which is to grow clubs.
Magang said when she left volleyball, there were 17 clubs and now there are 13, but two have not subscribed going into the congress, meaning there are effectively 11 clubs only. “My wish is for us to get in and set a direction so that everyone knows where we come from and where we are going. Our committee must be capacitated and the people in our different committees should be skilled in those specific areas,” she said.
Magang said the volleyball space should be safe for everyone to participate. She said they would also push beach volleyball as it was easier to mobilise for this kind of volleyball and have a lot of players involved. She added that currently there is Zone VI circuit and beach volleyball could also be used to attract sponsors.
“Regarding volleyball facilities, we have an old plot, but access to it remains a challenge. But in four years, even if we have not built the facilities, something concrete must be there,” Magang said. Meanwhile, Magang is of the view that sport is too dependent on government. “We should be able to establish our grassroots development. BNSC is looking at bringing back the out-of-school programme and we must brace ourselves for that. We should be able to sell that to our potential sponsors. The subversion from government must be used for development,” she said.
Magang said in the last 13 years, she has established personal international and local networks that she intends to bring to support volleyball.
“I want a vibrant team and I don’t want to start teaching people their (roles) job. We do not have time for that. We are like a national team; there is no development at that level. Everyone should be able to deliver when they are assigned duties. I have already started assigning them,” Magang said.
She said they should not be putting back people into office who have been there before and failed. Magang said volleyball should be bold and intentional about what it wants.
“We want change and drive change together. Clubs are complaining that there is no communication. It is a cry that they have been advancing to the incumbent committee and they did not improve on that. It would frustrate our efforts if we get people who are going to work under pressure. I would like (Keefelakae) Moloi to come in as vice president-administration. He is from Spiking Stars and he has been vice president at BOTESSA,” she said. Moloi faces Ndibo Lebala and Johannes Ralegoreng in tomorrow’s election. Magang said the incoming committee impresses her and it would make her achieve her set goals.