MAPLANKA RESURFACES IN FENCING
SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR :Kelebogile Ntebo Maplanka has joined the Botswana Amatuer Fencing Society
Former Botswana Netball Association Secretary General, Kelebogile Ntebo Maplanka has been announced as the new Botswana Amateur Fencing Society Secretary General. This follows the resignation of fencing Society Secretary, Camille Gombalume, with close reports suggesting her intentions to focus on other personal business interests.
“This serves to inform you that Ms Camille Gombalume has resigned as BAFs Secretary General and the executive committee has since co-opted Ms Mmaneke Kelebogile Maplanka as BAFs Secretary General,” the statement reads.
Maplanka brings a wealth of experience in local sport following her previous engagements in various disciplines as a player and administrator at Notwane Netball Club. She has previously served as Public Relations Officer of Netball, Vice President Projects and Events, ascended to become the Secretary General, in addition, she also was the chairperson of the Sport Volunteer Movement (SVM) and holds a Diploma in Advanced Sport.
“I am pretty much excited, I am one person who likes challenges and I see this [Secretary General appointment] as a challenge because first and foremost I like to be known as a sports volunteer,
I have always been a sports volunteer from my time as an athlete to the time when I became an administrator,” Maplanka responded when Sun Sports reached out to her.
She highlighted that being a sport volunteer means offering one’s services wherever there is a need for their expertise to promote the development of sport. “Remember fencing is an Olympic Sport, it is an individual sport unlike Netball which is a group code. It is a new beginning for me in the sense that, this is a sport I have not done before but administration is administration, principles and practices can apply across various sporting disciplines. My knowledge in terms of the administration of sport is not only netball based, it is about sport, so I am looking forward to this challenge,” the experienced administrator shared.
Asked whether her journey with netball has come to an end, she indicated that the door remains open for future engagements. Maplanka has been selected as one of the volunteers at the upcoming Netball World Cup in South Africa, and she confirms that she will be in South Africa to render her services as a volunteer.
“I am a technical person where netball is concerned and I volunteer my technical expertise for the World Cup. I am going to be there volunteering, doing champion data because I have been trained for it and I have expertise in it. Being with
Fencing does not mean that where volunteers are needed whether internationally or continentally, I’ll stop ushering my services, if someone wants to volunteer they can always volunteer, it is not necessarily about a certain code,” she explained.
She also highlighted that at least three (3) other local sporting codes did present their keenness to have her join them, but after weighing her options she settled for Fencing.
Fencing Public Relations Officer, Thabile Pilane further expressed the Society’s contentment with the appointment of Maplanka, adding that she will add the much needed stability and progress of the Society.
“The board co-opted Ms Maplanka as she was identified as a perfect candidate to fill the post given her rich and detailed background in sports. We are trying to get everything moving in terms of the growth of our sport and administrators of her note will certainly guide us to new heights. She is very level headed and it is a good catch for us and so far so good,” Pilane said.
Giving an insight on Gombalume’s resignation, Pilane indicated that, “Towards the end of April, she tendered in her resignation as she cited some personal reasons which will not allow her to ably perform her duties in the Society, it came to a point where she had to choose. The board accepted the resignation.”