20 Mar 2018

Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) chief executive officer (CEO), Falcon Sedimo has encouraged Botswana’s elite athletes to save and invest the money they get through competitions and allowances.

Speaking during the BNSC and the PCI Heroes Sport Mentorship Programme capacity building workshop for national team athletes on Friday,Sedimo said athletes should be  cautious when it comes to spending their moneys.

“When you go on national team camp, when you go out for competitions, people see and they know it when you get your allowances.

Don’t just spend money on friends because they know you got your allowances,” he said.

He encouraged athletes to invest money on building themselves houses and not on luxurious cars and gadgets.

Sedimo further encouraged them to conduct and handle themselves in an exemplary manner to the young ones.

“We have a duty to conduct ourselves very well because the eyes of the public will always be on us,” Sedimo stated.

He further encouraged them to know and develop ways of handling and taking appropriate measures to reporting sexual harassment.

“There are those who have quit sport because of sexual harassment. Take steps so that you may be helped accordingly in case you are a victim,” he said.

Sedimo further said it is important to prepare athletes for standing and speaking in public because as athletes they are going to be interviewed at some point in their career.

“If you are not comfortable speaking in English, speak in Setswana or call an official to speak on your behalf,” he said.

The BNSC  CEO furthermore implored the athletes to allow themselves to learn from others when giving interviews saying the questions asked are generally the same questions across the sporting quotes.

The purpose of the workshop was to train the athletes in the various areas such as basic personal financial management, people skills ,handling media and personal branding so as to give them the necessary skills and knowledge to make informed decisions about their sporting careers and life in general.ENDS