16 Aug 2015

Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng, says sport veterans are key partners in sport. 

Minister Olopeng addressed  veterans, who at some point, raised the Botswana flag high on global stages by winning medals.

At a Saturday (August 15) meeting in Gaborone, the veterans shared their experiences with the minister and further indicated their keenness to continue engaging in sport.

A sport veteran committee, which would assist Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) to facilitate formation and administration of Sport Veteran Association, was formed.

The association would be presented at BNSC AGM in December for endorsement.

Olopeng said the purpose of the meeting was for him to introduce himself to sport veterans and further unpack his road map.

He told them that he recognised their contribution and would like to continue working with them to develop sport.

He also informed them that his dream was to professionalise sport, something he said needed strong administration structures.

Therefore, he encouraged stakeholders to work together to realise such dream. 

He added that Botswana had potential considering the small population and how the country had fared in sport.

“Our children graduate from universities and then face unemployment but there is still a chance in sport. I don’t want to believe that in a population of two million we have one Nijel Amos, or one Amantle Montsho and one Isaac Makwala, no way.”

Moreover, he encouraged former sport persons to help the ministry and BNSC unearth talent everywhere, be it in villages or cattle posts.

Olopeng said he had realised that there was so much talent produced in Marobela after listening to testimonies from the village-born veterans.

As such, he said they would, in future, host a national sport event in Marobela to honour them.

He further highlighted that they had been promised land in Palapye for a horse racing arena which he said would allow for structured and consolidated competitions.

He added that they were working hand in hand with Botswana Horse Society to ensure it materialised.

Responding to questions from the gathering, Olopeng said the absence of Francistown teams in the be Mobile Premiership was worrying but that did not mean teams from the couth could not be fixtured at the new Francistown stadium.

Olopeng said he believed every team had supporters spread across the country, hence did not see why a Southern team would not play in Francistown.

That, he added, would ensure that the stadium is fully utilised.

The minister said involvement of teachers in sport was key because they could spot young talent in schools.

BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng said the veteran association would be part of their structures that would help in ensuring that former athletes and administrators database was kept.

However, Reikeletseng noted that the biggest challenge with the sport of excellence was lack of structures, with some teachers giving BNSC hard time, especially those who were not sport followers and volunteers.

He stated that such teachers infiltrated the system and made it difficult for the centres to function.

Nevertheless, he remained optimistic that involvement of veterans in centres would help since they brought on board their experience.

Speaking on behalf of the veterans, football coach, Sikalame ‘Six’ Keatlholetswe, appreciated the meeting, saying it indicated that the the minister valued their opinion.

Keatlholetswe said the new committee should be active and ensure that things ran well for the successful formation of a veteran association. ENDS