10 Feb 2015

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) affiliates have instructed their executive committee to stop marathons and road races that are held without the association’s knowledge.

The affiliates registered their displeasure at the BAA annual general meeting, after the association’s president, Moses Bantsi told them that there were races and marathons organised outside the structures of BAA.

Bantsi said the races were uncoordinated and at times clashed or coincided with the BAA approved activities. These races, he added, were also not held in terms of the international federations standards and competition rules.

The scenario, he said, might cause a lot of problems to the association, if the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) or Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) could call a sanction against Botswana.

Bantsi said it was a general principle that any one organising a race in the country should engage with BAA affiliate within the area, in which the race was organised.

“People are now abusing the name we do it for charity, but they should remember that any organised sport is governed by international rules and regulations which should be adhered to by all regardless of the status,” he said.

On other issues, Bantsi said the past few years, the country had seen an increase in professional athletes, who normally would have managers. For a very long time, the managers had never followed the rules they were supposed to operate under let alone to respect the association, he added.

The managers sign contract with athletes without the association involvement, and also fail to furnish them with copies of the contracts, therefore this puts the association in the dark of what was happening with its own athletes.

“Surprisingly, the managers own the athletes, which is contrary as they athletes are actually employers of these managers, again they should also remit some annual fee to the association which to my knowledge none of them has complied,” he said.

Bantsi said, this year they would sign the forms of appointment with those who appreciate, respect and willing to work with association.

He further said the licensing system has long been implemented by IAAF structure, but BAA was yet to do it, adding this would cause a lot of problems given that athletes would soon need clearance to compete outside the county, and he admitted that as BAA they were operating outside stipulated rules.

He however said all athletes should be registered as a matter of urgency and prescribed license number should be given to them to get clearance permit from the National Federation to compete outside their territory.

Bantsi said his association has entered into an agreement with Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) to engage a full time athletics coach for Good hope Senior Secondary School, for a period of two years.

He said the coach who was identified by BAA was Mogomotsi Otsetswe and he could have started his coaching duties in January but due to consultation with various ministries and departments there were some delays.  ENDS