THE BNSC CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MEDIA BRIEF

17th August 2021

 

1. Introduction
   1. 1 We are happy to host you this morning, at this virtual press conference that is meant to bring you (the media) and by extension, Batswana up to speed with what is happening within our sport.

 

1. 2 We meet at a very challenging time during which every single day we hear of the passing on of someone we are related to, someone we know from high school, or a friend we met through Facebook.

 

1. 3 These are not mere statistics, but fathers and mothers,  brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, sons and daughters etc and the loss of each one of them is not only a devastation to their families, but loss of future innovativeness, talent and/or experience at an organisation, wisdom within a community, love to family and friends, passion to business or farming and many other things.

 

1. 4 May I request therefore that we observe a moment of silence for our dear brothers and sisters who have succumbed to Covid 19 and other conditions.

 

****** Moment of Silence*******

 

1. 5 May their souls rest in eternal peace.

 

1. 6 Dear Colleagues, it is clear that Covid is real and that we have to fight it with all our might, lest it annihilates us as a nation. It is on this score that the very first issue I wish to address has come about as a consequence of Covid.

 

1. Suspension of Sport Activities

 

1. 1 It is now a matter of common cause that sport and other activities have been suspended.

 

1. 2 Yet again, we wish to state that while we understand the repercussions that this will have on those earning a living from and/or pursuing sport for many other reasons, we understand and fully subscribe to the approach of wanting to preserve human lives before anything else.

 

1. 3 To that extent, we wish to record our support of the decision to temporarily suspend sport except for national teams. We will of course continue to engage with the relevant authorities, and should all of us agree at any point to modify the status quo, such shall be communicated accordingly.

 

1. 4 At the point the suspension of sport will be lifted, either partially or fully, our guidelines will go back into effect and National Sport Associations would once again have to obtain our approval before resuming activities.

 

Vaccination of Athletes

1. 5 One of the things that we in sport are working around the clock on is to get our athletes, especially the professional ones and those earmarked to represent the country in international competitions in the foreseeable future vaccinated.

 

1. 6 It is against that background that through our parent Ministry, we had facilitated the vaccination of all the athletes and officials that were earmarked for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

 

1. 7 Enough vaccines were secured with the generous help of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, to the extent  that even reserves that did not end up making it to Tokyo were vaccinated.

 

1. 8 To clarify on the issue of Mr. Isaac Makwala, I can confirm that we had not only secured a vaccine for him, but had also offered to fly him back into the country from Europe to come and take his jabs.

 

1. 9 Of course, we fully understood his decision of delaying coming to Botswana, as he were made to understand that he feared he could have challenges re-entering Europe and that his schedule could have be affected detrimentally.

 

1. 10 Had Makwala elected to come back for the vaccine, we would have covered his travel costs the same way we did for Baboioki Thebe who was training in Senegal at the time.

 

1. 11 We would therefore like to make it clear that for Makwala to vaccinate where he did, that had absolutely nothing to do with lack of support or willingness on the part of government, but rather more to do with his choice.

 

1. 12 We thank him for taking the vaccine and encourage our other athletes in the diaspora that just like Makwala and Nijel Amos who got jabbed in the USA where his training camp was, if opportunities are presented to them to vaccinate, they should seize such without hesitation.

 

Preparations the AUSC Region 5 Games

 

1. 13 Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, as you are aware, we are just under four (04) months to the next edition of the AUSC Region5 5 Youth games.

 

1. 14 We have set ourselves a cap of 177 athletes to be selected from the sports of Athletics, Athletics for the Visually Impaired, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Judo, Netball, Swimming, Taekwondo, tennis and Volleyball and the budget for these Games is P12.5million.

 

1. 15 For any sport to remain on the list, the main condition they have to fulfil is to demonstrate that they have plans for the Team beyond the games in Maseru.

 

1. 16 We are now moving away from an era where regional Games can just be an end or a project by themselves, to one in which regional games are but a part of a long-term project for success at an international level.

 

1. 17 This way, it would not seem like we are starting from scratch every time we have to prepare to major competitions such as the Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth and African Games.

 

1. 18 This way, every thebe that we spend in team preparations will take us farther than it did in the past, and we can expect our results to turn for the better.

 

Zibani Ngozi Issue

 

1. 19 Having spoken about Team preparations, there is an issue that recently gained currency on social media; one that our athlete who ended up being part of the bronze medal winning Team was chased out of camp.

 

1. 20 It would be remiss of us not to provide clarification and/or context on that.

 

1. 21 The context is that every time we are preparing for major competitions, we usually start with a very large pool of athletes. As the competition dates approach, the numbers are usually whittled down for numerous considerations.

 

1. 22 Most of the times, we would be doing so because of limited resources, wanting to focus those on athletes that would either have already qualified or close to qualifying.

 

1. 23 In other instances, athletes are released from camp when they no longer have the opportunity to qualify for the specific event for which the camp is held.

 

1. 24 In the case of Zibani Ngozi, there was a time the Botswana Athletics Association was asked to submit only six (6) names for the Men’s relay Team that would represent the country in Tokyo and Zibani did not make that list from the BAA and that is how he was released from camp.

 

1. 25 The good thing that we applaud him for, is that such did not deter him, he kept training to the extent that when some of the athletes that were selected ahead of him got injured, he got roped into the Team and did not disappoint.

 

1. 26 What happened with Zibani ladies and gentlemen is not unique to sport. You have watched programmes like Idols, My Star and America’s got Talent, wherein some singers who fail to make it to the end would later become more successful than the winners.

 

1. 27 You yourselves here have at some point not failed to secure journalism jobs, only some of you to end up succeeding beyond where the other positions would have taken you to.

 

1. 28 It we had the resources; we would keep as many of our athletes from across as many sports in camp for as long as the Coaches and NSAs advice.

 

1. 29 We have had similar instances like Zibani’s and Leungo Scotch is another case in point.

 

****** Leungo Scotch Story******

 

1. 30 We actually like and thank athletes like Zibani and Leungo, wo are not deterred by minor upsets but persevere I pursuance of their goals, and look at what they have now; two bedroomed houses and quite a bit of money to start some projects.

 

******Athletes Houses****

 

1. 31 Having talked of the issue of athletes’ houses, be pleased to take note that we are working around the clock to ensure that those are handed to them very soon.

 

1. 32 We at the BNSC and BNOC have been given the responsibility to facilitate that process so if there will be delays, there is no one else to point a finger to than the Acting BNOC CEO and myself.

 

1. 33 We trust that the athletes will take care of their houses and that this noble gesture by Government will motivate many of our up-and-coming athletes to know that sport can indeed be rewarding.

 

*******Status of Stadia******

 

1. 34 Having taken of taking care of one’s assets, I would like to touch on the issue of stadia in our care.

 

1. 35 It is a matter of common cause that a few of our stadia can do with maintenance, to varying magnitudes.

 

1. 36 The facilities in Molepolole and Masunga stadium where is such a state that we had to close them for care and maintenance purposes. Serowe is also n tina good state and we are assessing it for decision making purposes.

 

1. 37 We will soon be starting some works at some of the stadia under our care to improve them.  

 

1. 38 Of course, the limited resources that we have would not make possible maintenance to the level we desire and understanding that Government is currently constrained to support due to Covid, we are presently engaging some international partners as well as appealing to the private sector to come on Board.

 

1. 39 We are also working to bring back on board, the golf redevelopment project that should generate funds for the Commission in the mid to long term, money that could go into sport development and facilities maintenance.

 

1. 40 We wish to state that being cognizant of the fact that our clubs depend on gate takings to a large extent, we took a conscious decision that for the period spectators are not allowed at venues, we will not charge facility rental fees, but rather only ask clubs to cover the costs of cleaning and utilities.

 

 

1. Centres of Sport Excellence (CSE) sporting facilities construction and upgrade
   1. 1 The Commission is currently in the process of awarding tenders to companies to construct two Football (Futsal) courts with ablutions and two Volleyball courts with ablutions at Radisele CJSS. This is a centre for both Football and Volleyball. The total cost for the two projects is estimated at P3 200 000.00.

 

1. 2 A construction company has been identified to carry out the refurbishments of the two Netball courts at Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School. The project will cost P200 000.00.
2. 3 An upgrade of the Softball Diamond at Goodhope Senior Secondary School will be carried out at an estimated cost of P250 000.00.

 

1. ELITE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
   1. 1 11 athletes will benefit from this scholarship this year, coming from several sports such as Athletics, Boxing and Cycling, inter alia.
   2. 2 In addition to this, Botswana Table Tennis Association has been offered three slots for scholarships by the Indian Government.

 

1. ZEBRA ATHLETE FUND

 

5.1 A total of 20 athletes will benefit from this programme in this financial year.

 

1. Botswana Games
   1. 1 As communicated, Botswana Games for this year have been cancelled, owing mainly to challenges given rise to by Covid-19

 

1. 2020 Sport Awards
   1. 1 We have yet to make a decision on the 2020 awards, given the limited activity we experienced in that year. The chances are, if we will have a modified award this year, not necessarily following the principles from the past. Details will be given in due course.