03 Jan 2018

2017 has been a roller coaster year for sporting codes in the county. For some codes, the year was characterised by fun memories that will be remembered for many years to come. For some, it was a year that simply deserves to be forgotten.

BOPA takes a review at some of the key sporting activities that dominated the headlines in 2017.

Zebras posit poor results 

The year 2017 was arguably the worst in recent history of  the national football team, Zebras.The year was highlighted by the much talked about  controversial departure of  former English Premier League footballer, Peter Butler as the team’s head coach.

Butler resigned from his job, ending  his four-year acrimonious relationship with the Botswana Football Association (BFA).

He was later replaced by Oris Radipotsane, who was appointed as a caretaker coach pending the appointment of Major David Bright.

The chopping and changing of the national team’s head coaches had an impact on the field of play as the Zebras lost all their official fixtures in 2017 and only tasted victory in an Independence Day friendly against Ethiopia.

BPL, BTC announces new deal 

Botswana Premiership League (BPL) and Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) announced a P39 million deal, which will see the BTC continue as the elite league sponsors for the next three years, with an increase of P9 milliom from the last sponsorship.

BFA resurrects women football 

After suspending women football activities in Gaborone, Botswana football governing body resurrected the women league in the regions.

Women super league was only played in Gaborone, something which did not seat well with BFA leadership as they were of the view that like all football structures in the country, women football should cover all regions.

Mascom increases winners’ money 

Season seven of the Mascom Top 8 was launched, with this season’s champions winning P1.3 million from P1.2 million. 

  The tournament also ushered in Security Systems for the first time in the tournament’s history.

Coaches lose jobs

BTC Premiership League experienced a lot of changes in many team’s technical set ups. About six coaches parted ways with their teams only in week 10 of the league campaign, with exit of  Madinda Ndlovu  at Orapa United and Mike Sithole at Jwaneng Galaxy making the headlines. 

Other notable departures were of Daniel Nare leaving Miscellaneous for Orapa United and Pio Paul’s indefinite suspension at Sharps Shooting Stars.

Makwala wins hearts at championships  

It was an eventful year on the tracks, dominated by Isaac Makwala’s heroic acts during the IAAF world championship games in London.

After been controversially recused from competing in the 400m finals due to unconfirmed norovirous attack moments before the final, the most extraordinary 48 hours in Makwala’s career happened as he was dramatically reinstated into the 200m before running a solo time trial in 20.20sec to make the semi-finals.

Two hours later, he qualified for the final after going 0.06 seconds quicker. 

To add the cherry on top of the already outstanding season, Makwala was crowned the 400m IAAF Diamond League 2017 champion with Nigel Amos walking away with the 800m crown.

Men’s 4x400 metres relays team also did the country proud by winning silver at the 2017 IAAF World Relay Championships in Bahamas.

Youth team brings home medals

The Commonwealth Youth Games team brought home three bronze medals.  Brian Galelemogwe won bronze for boxing in a bout,  where he faced an opponent from Bahamas.  A mixed relay team that comprised of Phodiso Rampa, Rose Sanane, Mothusi Boitshwarelo and Oarabile Tshosa bagged a bronze in the 4x200m race while James Freeman finished third in the 1 500m swimming freestyle.

Botswana had sent athletes from swimming, athletics, boxing and cycling to the Games.

BBA hosts championship preliminaries 

Botswana Basketball Association hosted the 2017 Zone VI club championships preliminaries in Gaborone.

In the frame work of the 2017 FIBA Africa Champions cup, the tournament attracted  both men and women winning champions and their runners-up from Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Angola.

Also, 16 U18 teams, which won their national qualifiers in Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland and Zimbabwe competed in the Young Lions Cup final in Gaborone. 

Dull year for volleyball 

It was a dull year for volleyball following the withdrawal  of Mascom as the league sponsor. As a result, the code had to halt all league games due to lack of sponsorship. 

The cup competition, however went on as planned with Kalavango winning the Capital BMW  women tournamen and Police won the men’s category.  

Both Kalavango and Police competed at the Zone XI volleyball championship in Zimbabwe.

Mafolofolo women and Police men won the JB Sports tournament.

FOX Sports brings boxing to Gaborone

The global leader in premium sports broadcasting, Fox Sports continued to grow its footprints on the African continent and featured two World Boxing Association Pan-African title fights at the International Convention Center (GICC). All the fights were sanctioned by the World Boxing Association, the oldest organisation recognised by the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

2017: Chess eventful year 

2017 was quite an eventful and an interesting year in many facets for Botswana Chess Federation.

The biggest highlight being the visit by the president of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov to Botswana.

He assisted in the launch of  Chess in schools programme as one way the world chess governing body uses to improve the standard of the game from grassroots level.

Another notable activity was a visit by Russian Grand Master Nikolay Chadaev, whose main aim was to push chess developmental agendas well as speed up chess grassroots programme.

The federation also held its elective annual general meeting in May. 

The body was also nominated for five BNSC awards and scooped three; being the Sports Code of the year award, Administrator of the year award for former President Tshenolo Maruatona and the Sports Woman of the Year award, which went to Onkementse Francis

 Former president, Tshepo Sitale also got elected as senior vice president of the Botswana National Olympic Committee in a highly contested elections.

President Khama recognises Lebotse-Sebego  

Botswana Netball Association (BONA) former president, Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego was awarded the Presidential Certificate of Honour by President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

Under the leadership of Lebotse-Sebego, Botswana won the bid to host the Netball World Youth Cup 2017 (NWYC2017) held under the banner #Re A Batsaa.

The tournament was the first world cup event for Botswana featuring 240 U21 athletes from 20 countries.

This was also the first International Netball Federation world cup in Africa.

In world netball rankings, Botswana team moved from position 20 to spot number 21 after not performing well in the world competitions.

Meanwhile, after 10 years at the helm of BONA, Lebotse-Sebego stepped down and Malebo Raditladi was elected new president.

Karate shines 

2017 has had its fair share of news for Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) as the association had a handful of successful goals.

In his last State of the Nation Address, President Khama pointed out that karate was a highly performing and rapidly growing sporting code in the country.

Team Botswana made history this year in June, bringing home 65 medals from Region V competitions, which were held in Maputo.

Thabang Setshego and Mohamed Ali represented Botswana at Karate World Championships coming home empty handed.

Despite not winning medals,  the duo’s participation on its own is an achievement. Ali was ranked Top 50 in World Karate rankings, booking himself space in Olympic Youth Games qualifying stage.

Hosting international tournament was among the association’s year goals, which came to pass. Botswana was given the opportunity to host the 2019 Union Federation of African Karate (UFAK) Championships beating Mali, Burundi and Algeria.

Tshenyego wins BNOC elections 

Lt Col Botsang Tshenyego  was elected Botswana National Olympic (BNOC)’s president after being voted by 15 delegates.

Tshenyego beat Ookeditse Malesu, who garnered six votes while Lebotse-Sebego and France Mabiletsa were only elected by two people each. Daniel Molaodi managed a solitary vote.

For the position of senior vice president, Tshepo Sitale emerged victorious after being voted by 15, while Naledi Dikgomo-Goulden got eight votes and Moses Bantsi garnered three votes.

Sibanda wins big at BNSC awards

Botswana athletics’ poster boy, Karabo Sibanda took centre stage at the 37^th annual Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) Awards.

The Rio 2016 Olympics finalist walked away with the prestigious Sports Person of the Year Award and Junior Male Sports Person of the year.

Despite having a roller coaster season, mired by injuries, Sibanda defined the odds, by being Botswana’s only finalist at the Rio 2016 Olympics and finishing 5^th in the men’s 400m final. ENDS