BAA still chasing autonomy

In 2016, BNSC approved BAA’s request for a fully- fledged secretariat after the association filed an application believing that they have grown hence the need for a secretariat. Currently, the association awaits only appointments of the Chief Executive Officer and coaches into the office. Following a splendid performance at the Tokyo Olympics and World Junior Championships, athletics carried the hopes of the nation at world stages; the need to maximize and control their destiny is believed to be imperative. “We want to be independent, we want to grow. We have our own plot and like Botswnaa Football Association ( BFA) we want to have our offices outside the BNSC,” Theetso shared.

As an entity, BAA would be responsible for its business such as negotiating and soliciting for sponsorship. With direct engagements with the sponsors, there will be a room for the entity to understand better the sponsorship requirements that would allow the association to thrive.

“If we are an independent entity, we can negotiate our own lucrative deals. We will be able to set up structures and build long term development goals. Right now we rely on government through school sports, and as it is the case recently, with no school sports, our development programs are badly affected.

The autonomy can go a long way to help us set up our own development structures,” BAA Vice President explained. He added that the autonomy will smoothen their working relations with other international athletics organs. “Sport should be independent from politics. World Athletics completely do not condone political interference, at the moment we deal

and with them through BNSC. If we directly dealt with them we would be able to do a lot of activities and host events.

If we wanted to host cross country, it would be very easy but now we have to seek approval first from BNSC and government,” Theetso explained. BAA has already demonstrated their capability to run their affairs as they host and organize Botswana National Champions, an event that qualifies athletes to major sporting activities in track and field events. Isaac Makwala qualified for the Tokyo- 2020 Olympics early this year during the said event. The Gaborone International Meet ( GIM), now a World Athletics continental tour bronze meet, is also under the close management of BAA.