16 Nov 2017

Joshua Gaotlhobogwe retained his Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) presidency garning 117 votes over Eagile Molelo at 92 Votes and Montlenyane Radihepi with 30 votes.

Gabotlhobogwe became a victor at the annual BISA general meeting which was held in Palapye recently.

Speaking in an interview with BOPA, he said he was happy to be accorded another chance, as the previous term was not enough to accomplish his plans.

“Now as we are new in the office, we need a fresh mandate to avoid being haphazard in the way we do things,” he said.

Gaotlhobogwe said they were going to work hard to up the game from the level where they are, to go a bit higher in terms of delivery and pushing the mandate of BISA.

“Our main focus has been to partner with other stakeholders as BISA cannot entirely rely on government alone,” he said.

He said they managed to secure sponsors including the P800 000 sponsorship deal with Coca Cola.

Gaotlhobogwe further noted that in the previous years  they  focused more on the corporate governance of running the organisation, in terms of compliance, adding that, they were focused on implementing the modest ways of doing things.

“The four years which we were given was not enough, since the first two years encompassed drafting of the policy, while the last two years was too little for implementation, which I have used for my campaign,” he said.

He said, at the annual general meeting, he had made members aware that, they have not finished that which they have started, hence the need for the second term.

“We belive we have been conducting our duties accordingly, in an orderly manner, as we are audited in all our conducts,” he said.

He dismissed allegations of misuse of funds, saying that they were audited by Price Water Coopers, Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) and also accounted to the Ministry of Basic Education, adding that since some were campaigning, it was just a tone of the elections, and that some people spoke as they did, just so that they could be recognised as people who could do good for the organisation.

“We have done efforts which have been appreciated by our immediate supervisors, but just like any other organisations, we have faced challenges,” he said.

In terms of development of athletics and talent identification, Gaotlhobogwe said from 2013 up to now, they have worked hard to unleash talent.

“The 2014, BISA National Finals, University of Botswana stadium, we have unleashed Baboloki Thebe and Karabo Sibanda.

They went on to shine at the Africa Youth Games which was hosted in Botswana.

The rest is history. We have others who are still at schools, who have participated at Barhamas,” he said.

“In continuation, I have managed to recruit two women in to the committee, and this has been my priority, as we are dealing with a girl child.

This is a milestone for us, as our previous committee did not have a single woman,” he said.

He said at the forefront, they will also focus at providing training for coaches, adding that presently there were many coaches in schools who coached without being trained.

“We are in cooperation with BNSC to conduct such course. This is what we promised our masses at the AGM,” he said.

Further, he said, there were other members whom he believed will reshape and create a path for BISA going to 2021.

“I am happy with the committee. When we campaigned for the elections we had different views in terms of how BISA is to be run. That is in the past. I am confident about the composition.

I trust them as they have previously served in BISA and looking forward to work with them.

The new committee includes vice president -Technical, Joy Kenosi, secretary general Harold Mosomane, vice secretary general, Boago Obonetse, treasurer, Tapiwa Mokoka Kengaletswe and publicity secretary Jonas Letsweletse. BOPA