Codes talk tough ahead of meeting
Sparks are expected to fly when Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chairperson, Marumo Morule meets with National Sport Associations (NSA) in inaugural one-on-one meetings next week.
Morule will meet cycling, athletics, karate, boxing, football, volleyball, tennis, netball and softball. The meetings, to discuss burning issues affecting the codes, will start on Tuesday.
Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) president, Tshepo Bathai said some of the policies are not working for sport.
He said the hosting and insurance policies are no longer relevant in their current state. He said there is also an issue of Sport Development Officers (SDO) who work for NSAs because it is not clear how they are appraised.
“The BNSC board must take a look at these policies and adjust them. Most people are not happy about the current funding model and during the 2018 Sport Pitso that was held a few years ago, we came up with a proposal but the recommendations have not been implemented. We want him to update us on what is happening,” Bathai said.
He said BNSC insurance only covers national athletes team leaving out the technical officials. He noted that karate coach, George Tshikare was injured during national team duty and had to take care of his medical bills, as he was not covered.
Bathai said they also have other BOKA issues that they would raise with the chairperson during the meeting.
BTA president, Oaitse Thipe said on top of his agenda is getting BNSC to understand how athletes could benefit from associating with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and reform BNSC Elite scholarship to benefit more athletes using less money.
“NCAA are universities in United States of America, which could offer more of our athletes sport scholarships from tennis, athletics and football, but we do not take advantage because BNOC and BNSC employees are clueless about it. Most tennis players always get these scholarships,” Thipe said.
He said other issues would be on administration such as getting an SDO for BTA or reforming the position to technical director.
Botswana Volleyball Federation vice president, George Keotsene said the executive committee was scheduled to meet yesterday to discuss issues to be raised at the meeting.
Botswana Softball Association vice president, Gontlafetse Batsetswe also said they were yet to meet.
“We are still discussing on what to present to him. The meeting is specifically addressed to the president, secretary-general and treasurer. We are not yet sure what the major discussion would be about, but we are also collating our wish list,” Batsetswe said.
For her part, BONA secretarygeneral, Ntebo Maplanka said she could not divulge what they would raise until they meet with the chairperson.
“It is our very first one-on-one with him. Again we have a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting this weekend to prepare for this very important meeting,” Maplanka said.
Morule told Mmegi Sport that the schedule for the meetings is not yet finalised.
“Due to COVID-19 protocols and virtual meetings we were not able to deal with all issues during the annual general meeting (AGM). The plan now is to have meetings in smaller groups. It is also an opportunity for me to inform NSAs about my strategy and vision for BNSC,” Morule said.
Meanwhile, Kitso Kemoeng, Eva Mwila, Phineas Maweni and Joseph Thebeetsile Kgosiemang were last night inducted into Botswana Sports Hall of Fame for 2020.