06 Aug 2015

As Southern African countries brace up to come and share their achievements and developments at the coming Southern African development Community (SADC) summit the local sports fraternity’s regional contribution would go unstated.

Botswana through the sports fraternity has made strides in achieving some of the SADC objectives such as strengthening and consolidating the long standing historical, social and cultural affinities and links among the people of the region. 

Botswana has made remarkable contribution to the region as a number of the locals are heading some sporting bodies.

The southern sports body African Union Sports Council (AUSC) formerly known as zone IV is presently the best continentally in terms of athletes performance in world competitions, it’s also faring well in training of officials such as administrators and coaches, who are also competent enough to officiate at major meets. 

BOPA Reporter Lucretia Chima had a chat with some locals who are heading some of the regional bodies. 

Former Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) official Million Masumbika who is AUSC Region 5 Karate president since 2013 said karate is where it is today because of BOKA.

Sensei Masumbika said Botswana played a pivotal role in the formation of karate organ to help coordinate their activities following a successful tournament held in Zimbabwe in 1992. He said then they were only four member countries, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana and they met in Botswana to form Zone IV. 

He said due to the success of their competitions more countries such Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Swaziland joined the block. In 1998, they formed referees council to coordinate and officiate at games, which he chaired.

In 2013 Sensei Masumbika trained and graded referees to different levels some of which were officiating at world karate meets. He said to be affiliated to AUSC Region 5 they had to align their constitution and said the regional body has also applied to being part of COSASSA.

The region 5 president still stands to be the greatest contributor to this regional body, as they were consistent in terms of participation and hosting. Sensei Masumbika said sports promote unity. 

He said there were also various opportunities derived from sport social ones and economical and said apart from forging relations some sportspersons have identified business opportunities in the foreign countries.

Botswana Athletics Association now the president of AUSC R5 Athletics said AUSC headquarters being in Botswana is an indication that Botswana is doing a lot. Moses Bantsi said for a long time BAA has hosted several regional competitions.

“Our region is doing extremely well its success translate to impressive performance at international games. We have developed a strategic plan for each country, to be implemented by national federations who will trickle it down to clubs.” He said.

Bantsi said the region is dominating continental meets and is known as active region capable of producing record holders such as the likes of Amantle Montsho, Isaac Makwala, and Nijel Montsho among others. He said they were also delighted that their athletes too have realized that their talent could be a career as they win prizes something that empowers them and could be one’s career.

He said it was encouraging to see sports organs in South Africa saying no to xenophobia, something that the Olympic charter also promotes. He said sports could enhance relationships between nations in the region and beyond. 

Region 5 Tennis President a representative of confederation, Nelson Amanze said they oversee the running of youth games in the region. They also supervise and come up with rules to ensure uniformity and adherence by member countries.

“As SADC we want to witness our players bringing medals from major competitions. We want our officials to be roped in some international competitions.”

Amanze said through holding the ITF level 2 certification course to ensure that their members empowering players to attain their targets. He said it is encouraging that they usually engage officials from the region than from the world mother body. Ends