14 Jun 2018

First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) has announced a P3 million sponsorship to the Botswana Tertiary Student Sports Association (BOTESSA).

The sponsorship, which will run for three consecutive years, with each year budgeted at P1 million, comes amid preparations for the Confederation of University and Colleges Sports Associations (CUCSA) competitions to be hosted by Botswana from June 18-22.

As part of the sponsorship package, all sporting codes received kit, with FNBB bagging naming rights on all kits, to be used throughout all BOTESSA future activities.

Speaking at the sponsorship launch in Gaborone, Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Dikgang Makgalemele said such partnerships opened opportunities for everyone to be able to participate in sport and reaching their fullest potential.

He said the sponsorship was one of the building blocks needed to achieve the goal of making Botswana a truly great sporting nation, of which the whole continent could be proud.

Makgalemele applauded FNBB for being a leading example in helping to empower the youth, adding that employment creation in the country was the responsibility of all sectors.

The sponsorship he said, continued to demonstrate the bank’s commitment in developing sport and recreation at the grassroots, which should not be regarded lightly.

The assistant minister urged the private sector to add to resources in sport, noting that FNBB’s gesture was in line with government’s commitment to developing sport, which was also an example of public-private cooperation and investment into key areas of the country’s economy.

He urged athletes to excel as that would not only provide an opportunity to become national icons, but could be an opportune moment for some of them to get signed up by international clubs.

Makgalemele pointed out that athletes should take advantage of home ground in delivering an outstanding performance.

When unveiling the sponsorship, FNBB CEO Steven Bogatsu said the bank believed in nurturing talent and was passionate about youth development.

Bogatsu said supporting sport at grassroots level would provide athletes with a platform to fully utilise their skills and propel them to the national and international stages.

He said sport had evolved in the country and contributed to economic growth hence it was imperative for the private sector to assist government by playing an active role in developing and supporting the sport industry.

National athletes, he said were performing well, adding that they could do much better if given enough support from the start.

Bogatsu said through the partnership, athletes would have access to facilities and equipment needed to advance their craft as they would get training camps for longer periods to adequately prepare for high level competitions. 

The sponsorship, he said would enable athletes to travel and participate in international games against the world’s best thus paving way for scouting opportunities. ENDS