14 Mar 2013

Botswana Athletics Association has slapped three of its affiliates with suspensions for paying subscriptions late.

BAA spokesperson, Ipolokeng Ramatshaba confirmed in an interview that the trio: Serowe Athletics Club, United Sprinters Athletics Club and Maun Athletics had been suspended for paying subscription fees late.

He said the constitution stipulated that all affiliates should pay a subscription fee of P200 on or before January 1 or alternatively pay before January 31 with 10 per cent interest.

He said failure to satisfy either one of these conditions attracted a one-year suspension hence the suspension.

Ramatshaba said Serowe and Maun clubs had paid, but their payments were late while the United Sprinters had not yet paid their dues.

He last year, most clubs were pardoned with the hope that they would not repeat the same mistake, adding that other clubs did not do annual returns, something he described as uncooperative and unprofessional.

For his part, the Maun Athletics Club secretary, Isaiah Gababonwe confirmed the suspension, saying they expected the team manager who lived in Gaborone to pay, but due to his busy work schedule he was unable to do that.

He, however, said the decision by BAA to suspend clubs would not do anybody good because the athletes of the concerned clubs made the national team.

According to the secretary, the Maun club had the likes of Yateya Tambepera, Loeto Kelediyakgotla and Kanjo Kahee who were all national team athletes.

He pointed out that they were trying to find ways of assisting their athletes to remain active over the suspension period.

Meanwhile, Lulu Basinyi of United Sprinters said he heard about the suspension but still needed to confirm it from the association while Serowe club could not be reached for comment. ENDS