Early daggers out for Magang’s team

As a new dawn beckons for volleyball, daggers are already out against the incoming executive committee led by Tsoseletso Magang. The Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) affiliates will converge at Woodlane Hotel for the long-awaited elective congress tomorrow.

The majority of the candidates are unopposed but concern from affiliates is that most of the contestants have ties with Kutlwano Volleyball Club. The only contests will be for the vice president-administration and additional members’ positions. Only two on the committee, Ndibo Lebala and

Joseph Mpho Tlhaselo are not part of the circle of Kutlwano ‘friends’. According to a source, the general members are worried about Kutlwano’s dominance in the executive committee, which could raise bias issues. “We are worried that there would be a repeat of what happened the last time when Magang was president. Everything was all about Kutlwano. Those people (committee) are in other clubs now but they have a history with Kutlwano,” a source said. They argue Magang is eyeing a position within the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) and she is using volleyball as a stepping stone. A source further said Magang is conflicted because she intends to train volleyball management.

Reacting to the allegations, Magang told Mmegi Sport that the focus is on individual excellence and experience that has been demonstrated so far.

“Tasking people with delivering volleyball must not be based on the history of clubs. Most people have moved around clubs but that does not determine their expertise in running sport. Some people have never even run the very clubs they are coming from and have had no involvement in sport leadership but they want to get straight into a strategic leadership position,” she said. Regarding her BNOC aspirations, Magang brushed aside the allegations.

“Are they aware of the Apex model which is being presented to Parliament soon to merge

BNOC and Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC)?” she wondered.

Magang said her company is going to sponsor volleyball training. She emphasised she was going to declare her interest in the ethics and governance body, which was recently established. Magang returns for her second term and has been in the past credited with the revival of the sport.

Nominees

President: Magang

Vice president-technical: Percy Roberts

Vice president-administration: Keefelakae Moloi, Ndibo Lebala and Johannes Ralegoreng

Vice president beach volleyball: Batsho Ruth Mbangwa

Treasurer: Odirile Moloi

Media relations and marketing officer: Joseph Mpho Tlhaselo

Additional members: Mbaki Kula and Pogiso Osupile