27 Nov 2016

As part of the 2016 Rugby Africa (RA) general assembly preparations to be held in Kasane next month, Botswana Rugby Union and Sport Volunteer Movement (SVM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last week.

While, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya had expressed interest to host the major, it was Botswana, which was awarded the rights to host the 2016 Rugby Africa general assembly.

At least 100 delegates from 37 countries including representatives of different rugby unions in Africa, the board of Rugby Africa and representatives of World Rugby are expected to attend the meeting; hence there was need to engage volunteers to help in delivering the event.

Speaking at the signing ceremony BRU president, Dave Gilbert said since they were awarded the rights to host last year, they had a lot of bridges to cross.

He added that they were now ready to host Africa.

He said hosting the general assembly in Botswana would benefit the country as it would boost the hospitality and tourism sectors.

“All the funds that we are going to use to prepare for the meeting are from Rugby Africa not for BRU or Botswana National Sport Commission,” he said.

Talking about their MoU with SVM, Gilbert said sport volunteers were inevitable, more especilly when hosting an event that attracted a lot of people.

Gilbert said during their weeklong  stay in Kasane they were going to make use of the services of the volunteers in assisting with movement of the delegates, bearing in mind that 50 percent of them were French speaking.

SVM chairperson, Ntebo Maplanka said sport need SVM for it to develop to another level, adding that her organisation was happy that BRU found it proper to embrace them.

 “We believe and trust that this agreement or workmanship we are starting now would go a long way in assuring that rugby activity would  run smoothly,” she said.

Maplanka further said it was very important for all to realise that SVM was very critical to Botswana sport, because it was for each and every Motswana.

SVM, she said does not discriminate, adding if one does not have skills to dribble the ball and running techniques, they could still be part of SVM.BOPA