22 Jun 2016

After spending almost three years without a technical sponsor, Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) has finally signed a five year deal with Nike with an option to increase by another year.

The last time BAA had a sponsor was in 2012 when athletes were dressed by Puma. 

Since then, the association has been struggling to solicit a technical sponsor.

The agreement was signed last week at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, USA by both BAA president, Moses Bantsi and secretary general, Legojane Kebaitse.

The contract means that all Botswana athletes will don Nike apparel during their national team major events.

However, Kebaitse said the association was expecting the first consignment in two weeks and all athletes who had qualified for the Olympics Games, amongst them Nijel Amos, Isaac Makwala, Baboloki Thebe, Karabo Sibanda, Lydia Jele, Christine Botlogetswe and 4x400m men relay team would ‘just do it’ at the games to be staged in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August this year. 

Most of Botswana athletes found it very difficult to efficiently train because they did not have the right attire. Therefore, Kebaitse said days of suffering would be the thing of the past.

Athletes, he said would be given a travel bag of Singlet/ airborne, 1/2 tight or short, full tight, short sleeved top, long sleeved top, rain suit, back pack, spikes, training shoes adding that a hat  would be supplied annually to teams and team management. 

Nike apparel, he said was not just ordinary given that the attire was tested under various conditions, like humidity, rain tested to see how it stands such weathers.

Quizzed as to what both athletes and the federation would benefit from the marriage with Nike, Kebaitse said the agreement was a very lucrative one. 

He said should one of the local athletes scoop a gold medal at the Olympics, the federation would be given US$15 000 (over P162 000) for a Nike sponsored athlete while the association would get US$8 000 (over P86 000 for non-Nike sponsored atheletes. 

For a silver medal, the federation will be given US$10 000 (over P100 000) for Nike sponsored athlete and US$6 000 (over P65 000) for non-Nike sponsored athlete.

For a bronze medal, the association will get US$5 000  (over P54 000) for Nike sponsored athletes and US$3 000 (over P30 000) for non-Nike sponsored athletes. 

“Mind you, all the money belongs to BAA and excludes any amount agreed between athletes and Nike. As it stand the agreement will  increase performance on the field for both coaches and athletes as all will want to  go to Nike,” he said.

Furthermore, he said the agreement with Nike would  address financial woes of the federation should they win high level competitions such as the Olympics and World Championships adding that it would also increase their  support base as replica shirts would be available. 

He said their marriage with Nike should be protected by all stakeholders involved as there were penalties in case athletes did not wear Nike apparel at major events. ENDS