12 Apr 2017

Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) and Botswana Primary schools Sports Association (BOPSSA) have for the first time hosted their national athletics finals together.

The two bodies, which are custodians of sport in schools hosted the national finals in Francistown recently.

The competitions were also used to select teams that will represent the country during the Confederation of School Sports Association of Southern Africa (COSASA) in Harare, Zimbabwein May.

In an interview, BISA public relations officer, Letsweletse Jonas said they were very happy with the how the competitions were conducted.He said the competitions went well.

He explained that they merged the two bodies after realising that they were driving the same goal, of developing athletes in schools.

He said the advantage of their combination was that athletes  would learn from each other and improve their performance.

Also, he said their merger would benefit athletes in their transition from primary to secondary school; thus making it easier for the association to monitor the records of the athletes.

Letsweletse said it was Ministry of Basic Education’s desire to merge the two bodies into a sole sporting body because they all had a mandate of developing athletes in schools.

BOPSSA public relations officer, Lawrence Moseki said the joint venture of BISA and BOPSSA had played a great role as they had improved the standards of athletes compared to when they were competing alone.

Also, he said it brought a lot of followers, which had helped motivate athletes to perform well.

The competition saw one of Maun Secondary School athlete in the 800m race,  Tshepiso Masilela clocking 1:51. ENDS