09 May 2017

Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) has elected a new committee to steer the ship for the next two years until the next elective congress.
The new committee was elected during the association’s annual general meeting on Monday. Thebe Selema returns to the helm of the association after a two year break to take over the reins from outgoing president, Lesego Maifala.
Three other posts, secretary, treasurer and competition’s secretary were unopposed and Lelentle Mokhupuki, Oabona Raditloko and Tshepo Modisane were sworn in respectively.
The only post that was decided after a secret ballot was the youth development coordinator where Rorisang Raesima, Kennete Santudu and Shadreck Matshidiso went for the jugular. The latter was declared the winner at the end of voting by the nine BTTA affiliates.
In his acceptance speech, Selema pleaded with table tennis clubs to help his committee fulfill their mandate.
He thanked the outgoing committee for living up to the expectations against all odds. He applauded them for keeping the fire burning and appealed to those aggrieved to learn to resolve their differences amicably.
He told delegates to give them time and space to fulfill the mandate they had been tasked to fulfill.
Outgoing president, Maifala said despite some success stories the association struggled especially financially.

 “2016/17 saw a general decline in income, which vastly crippled our activity plans and those of Table Tennis Clubs across the country.
As a result, the association struggled to send teams to international competitions and some clubs could not host their annual BTTA sanctioned tournaments.
It is our hope that this will be a lesson to BTTA and member clubs and in future clubs wishing to host will ensure that they are well resourced to host such events,” he said.

Maifala also decried the snail pace at which the strategic plan was implemented as people were engaged in other pressing life endeavors because table tennis management roles were done voluntarily.
Botswana National Sport Commission Sport (BNOC) development manager - administration, Elsie Kenosi praised table tennis delegates for embracing gender equality when electing the new committee.
He reiterated president Selema’s sentiments of avoiding internal bickering. She admitted that it won’t be an easy task but there was need to try harder to succeed.
Kenosi advised the new committee to review the old strategy to align it to the motherbody BNSC’s strategy.BTTA had invited officials from the BNOC and newly elected Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) president sensei Tshepo Bathai presided over the elections. Ends