FUMES OVER CRITICISM
Fast forward to May this year and things seemed to have boiled over following a stunning 3rd place finish by the 4x400m senior men’s team at the World Relay Championships in Poland. The bronze medal place saw the team punching a much needed ticket to the Tokyo2021 Olympics and indirectly opening a proverbial can of worms for Rakgare and his Ministry. Furthermore, it seemed that the main proponent in the harsh criticism of the Minister was senior athlete and 400m star Isaac Makwala who did not hesitate in venting frustration through his social media platform. It was not long until another influential athlete, Amantle Montsho joined the bandwagon in criticizing the ministry over perceived biasnes towards football.
“It is concerning that some within us tend to take advantage of Batswana’s interest in sport to peddle some untruths and/or drive narratives that are meant to discredit sport and/or divide us as a nation; causing undue damage to this beloved industry of ours,” Rakgare said, when addressing the media at the press conference in Gaborone this week.
“Contrary to some assertions, I am happy that the Botswana Government fully funded the trip by our Team to Poland,from camping, through travel to even the out of pocket allowances,” a seething Rakgare said.
Furthermore, making his point and addressing the harsh criticism he has received, the minister said: “With the exception of the men’s 4 x 100m, the government of Botswana had already spent in excess of P15million on the athletes that went to Poland, amongst other things, keeping them in training camps to ensure they have the right training, accommodation, nutrition and other forms of support. Their travel to Poland was covered under this allocation.”
The minister said that following their recent impressive performance that led to their invitation to the World Relay Team, the Botswana 4 x 100m men’s relay team received more than a quarter of a million from the government to cover all their costs to Poland.
“In addition to the foregoing, there is the P2.8million made available for preparations of Team Botswana to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games.
As if that is not enough, we have committed P13 million in the current financial year to ensure adequate preparation of our Team to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.”
According to Rakgare the amount of money mentioned sums up to what is by far the largest amount of money spent by the Government of Botswana to prepare a Team to Olympic and Paralympics Games. “Our records indicate that this is almost 300percent of last best figure and such can never be a mean achievement; especially given that this happens when our economy continues to be under immense pressure from Covid-19.”
The minister further explained: “Our efforts have contributed in no small way to ensuring that athletes, not only earned themselves the prize monies from the World Relays, but most fundamentally, that they have earned a place to the biggest sport spectacle that should allow them to attract sponsorships, endorsements and talent scouts.” On top of the prize money from the event, Rakgare said members of the Men’s 4 x 400m will not only receive performance incentives of P50,000 each from government , but they now join the elite league of Nijel Amos, Christine Botlogetswe and Keamogetse Kenosi who receive a monthly incentive of P8, 333.33 until August 2021.