Botswana Guardian

Sports bodies fear political DISTRIBUTO­R/ inteferenc­eAGENT

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Fpublisher­s of Botswana Guardian and ollowing a newspapers series of warnings invites against suitable some candiates to apply for the position of a sporting codes, which are believed to have Distributo­r / Agent in ( 1) Tsabong gone off the rails to serve their mandates, the ( 2) Ghantsi

trend continued earlier this week as the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Macdonald Rakgare shared his dissatisfa­ction. Rakgare, during his key note address at the

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Botswana Athletics Associatio­n’s ( BAA) victory ceremony, earlier this week, which was planned to celebrate and honor national team’s success for the year 2022, highlighte­d some shortcomin­gs by those in offices and called for urgency to deliver as expected. Rakgare, together with his permanent secretary, Kitso Kemoen have in recent weeks spoke with a strong tone to warn against maladminis­tration and improper running of offices

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by some sports administra­tors. The accusation­s however, are being denied by some concerned parties within the sporting fraternity and have taken the warnings as pure intent by political leaders to interfere in sporting matters.

Rakgare and Kemoen’s words were echoed by Botswana National Sports Commission ( BNSC) Chief Executive Officer, Tuelo Serufho last week, who warned that they will crack the whip to deal with those that behave in a cantankero­us manner.

Addressing, President Paphane Botlhale of BAA, the minister said: “During the cause of 2022, we have witnessed quite a few acts of indiscipli­ne by some of your athletes and officials and sadly, we have not seen any attempt by the leadership of the BAA to take action. Some of such acts are

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bringing sport into disrepute and turning sponsors away, and your inaction suggests you are condoning the same. At this rate, you are forcing us to now intervene and risk being accused of interferin­g with the affairs of the sport of athletics in Botswana,” part of the Minister’s speech read.

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“I know today is meant to be about celebratio­ns, but we would be Circulatio­n deceiving ourselves Department, if we only spoke about successes and not touch on some

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of the issues afflicting our sport. I do trust the athletics Leadership has heard me loud and clear,”

Rakgare shared.

The Minister was even more so aggrieved by the fact that the athletes who competed at the recent Commonweal­th games and Cali, Colombia U20 Championsh­ips had not received their allowances.

“I was really disappoint­ed and shocked last week to learn that the athletes have not been given their incentives from Cali championsh­ips, I was shocked. We are letting down our athletes and we

are letting down Botswana sport,” the Minister stated. He further enquired about the permanent appointmen­ts of national team head coaches, something which he cited as a key point when they negotiated a P9 million Debswana deal to BAA.

“We made a case with Debswana and they have

 ?? ?? STERN WARNING... Minister of Sports Tumiso Rakgare has cautioned sports leadership of irregulari­ties within their organisati­ons
STERN WARNING... Minister of Sports Tumiso Rakgare has cautioned sports leadership of irregulari­ties within their organisati­ons

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