29 Mar 2016

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Thapelo Olopeng has emphasised the need for events such as the Mascom Derby to be nurtured countrywide.

Speaking at the annual Mascom Derby event held in Maun on Saturday, the minister commended Mascom Wireless for their contribution in fostering the horse derby from the initial stage to its current stature.

He said the annual Mascom Derby which continued to attract magnitude of people to Maun each Easter holidays has shown growth hence the need for other organisations to emulate Mascom. 

The derby attracted magnitudes of spectators as well as jockeys and horses from Namibia, Lesotho and across Botswana.

Other notable contributions made by the Mascom in the country’s sport development include football through the Mascom Top 8, volleyball and the Mascom Derby.

Minister Olopeng told the Maun people that the horse derby was their initiative and will always be synonymous with Maun.

He assured them that the national horse derby facility planned for Palapye would not result in movement of the Mascom Derby to Palapye as has been some insinuations. 

He however said Maun and other areas will continue to host derbies at regional level.

Chief marketing officer from Mascom, Dzene Makhwade-Seboni expressed gratitude to government through the Ministry of Youth Sport and Culture, who came on board this year by sponsoring four horse race prizes.

The Mascom Derby grand race was won by a Namibia jockey George Max with his horse You touch my Heart, second position went to Piet Matthys of Tsabong  and his horse John Ducklass while Debe Xhwii of Jwaneng came third. 

In an interview, the grand prize winner stable official, Lenin Kariko said although the Namibians won most of the races, the Botswana horses were strong and better. He said they won the races by chance.

The grand race second position winner Piet Matthys said he did his best to grab that position although he had aimed for first position.

Matthys said the loose sandy terrain was a disadvantage as it affected their eye sight during the race.

Another horseman from Maun, Benard Van Der Westheizen who scooped position two in both 800m and 1000m thorough breed races said he was grateful for Mascom for its development of the annual horse derby. 

He said participation of other countries made the race even more competitive.  Ends