Empty coffers hinder weightlifting preparations
The sporting code eyes 2022 Commonwealth Games
Weightlifting Federation of Botswana ( WFB)’ s quest to qualify for the 2022 Commonwealth Games has been met with many challenges, chief amongst them being, lack of funds for preparations and participation in events.
With qualification for the Birmingham games already open, the weightlifting team is currently training without a proper budget. Commonwealth Games are slated for Birmingham in England next year. According to WFB secretary general, Alex Rankgwe, they have enlisted four athletes they have earmarked for the Commonwealth games qualification but could only be funded for only two athletes. “We have long submitted our budget and list of the team to Botswana National Olympic Committee ( BNOC) but we are yet to meet them to discuss the team plans. It has been a very long time since we submitted those but we do not know what could be the problem,” said Rankgwe.
WFB achieved a rare feat last week by qualifying Magdeline Moyengwa to the Tokyo Olympics. That made her the first ever woman and Botswana participant to the Olympics games under the weightlifting banner.
The 2021 Africa Championships which were held in Kenya a fortnight ago were the beginning of the Commonwealth games cycle of qualification. WFB have earmarked Alphius Kagiso, Dikabelo Solomon, Kgotla Kgaswane, Thabang Tshupetso and Moyengwa as the prime athletes who have a better chance to qualify. However, only Solomon and Kgaswane managed to compete at the 2021 Africa Championships, together with Moyengwa, who was also in a quest to qualify for Tokyo Olympics. The remaining two athletes were left in the lurch though the weightlifting federation has them in their plans for Birmingham 2022. Commonwealth Games are a point system qualifier, therefore there is a need for athletes to compete in all competitions lined up as qualifiers. With deadline set for February 2022, local athletes will have to compete at the World Championships and cup competitions.
BNOC are the custodians of Commonwealth and Olympic Games in Botswana. When asked if they have not engaged them further to seek help as early as possible, Rankgwe said: “We have not met the BNOC Local Organising Committee yet because we have been told time and again that they were supposed to meet first, but didn’t satisfy the required quorum. So we don’t know our fate now and apparently funds are not enough to support us.”