29 Jan 2019

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tshekedi Khama is expected to appoint a new Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chairperson.

The BNSC is currently without a leader after Solly Reikeletseng resigned last week.

The public has already endorsed former netball president Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego as heir apparent.

Khama might be spoilt for choice given that there is Professor Martin Mokgwathi and Tsoseletso Magang, who currently seat in the BNSC board.

The minister’s appointee will have a lot on the table, given that they will be expected to drive the BNSC strategy-vision 2028, especially the Big Hairy Audecious Goal (BHAG), which has a 10-30-year objective that serves as a unifying focal point of efforts to stretch the organisation beyond most people’s imagination.

One of the commission’s dreams is to win five Olympic gold medals from 2020-2028.

According to the BNSC strategy, their expectation is promotion of a more entrepreneurial approach to sport, a move towards an improved funding model and financial sustainability and a commonly agreed central position regarding distribution of funding.

The strategy is expected to empower affiliates to be practical in nature, be athlete centered; and focus on development of athletes from grassroots to elite; assist affiliates by providing an environment that is conducive for performance and assist affiliates to market and brand themselves, among others.

Therefore, BNSC, as a development structure, needs an astute leader who can also advise the Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development ministry, to dialogue with the Ministry of Basic Education and to close gaps between the two entities.

Sunday Standard sport journalist, Botlhale Koothopile said in an interview that the sport fraternity needs a chairperson with passion in sport.

He said it was also important that the chairperson be, more than anything, immersed in grassroots sport development.

He said for a long time BNSC had focused on elite sport, which was not its primary mandate, hence forcing the Botswana National Olympic Committee to then shift focus from elite to development.

The gap, he said also even ‘forced’ affiliates to adopt and adapt Botswana Long-Term Athletic Development (BLTAD), something that should have been the primary BNSC mandate.

“We therefore need a leader who can take BNSC ‘back to the crossroads’ to fulfil its primary mandate,” Koothopile said. ENDS