18 Apr 2018

As the day for the Gaborone International Meet is approaching, Pula Medical Aid Fund has injected P50 000 as sponsorship.

Speaking at a sponsorship launch on April, Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, who is also a patron of the Sports View Runners Club, Moiseraele Goya said the launch came at a time when Botswana athletes had done well at the just ended Commonwealth Games.

He said the athletes triumph should be a wake up call to all stakeholders, adding that the country had a challenge of ensuring that they sustained the momentum.

“There should not be any gap between the current crop of our athletes and those who will come in future. We close this gap by ensuring that we continue to develop our talent. But developing talent is not just manna from heaven, you need resources and money,” he said.He, however, said he was happy that Gaborone International Meet was entering into a cordial relationship with Pula Medical Aid Fund.Goya further urged other companies to emulate Pula Medical Aid Fund and support athletes in the country and assist the government.

The government, he said, took athletics seriously hence recently the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Thapelo Olopeng always talked about envisaged sport complexes in the country.

 “I for one will advocate for this facilities to be integrated, they should not only be confined to one sport code but should be inclusive of many sport codes,” he said.

Pula Medical Aid Fund, principal officer, Dr Thato Moumakwa said athletics in the country had grown to a point where Botswana was recognised in the international stage and also given the status of a power house.

He said his organisation was proud to be part of the Gaborone International Meet as the country continued to perform exceptionally well, and had done well at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Moumakwa also said good performance at the elite level was always anchored on solid grassroots development structures, and that it was imperative to support the Gaborone International Meet.Gaborone International Meet is an international track and field competition which is hosted on an annual basis by Sports View Runners Club. ENDS