31 Jan 2019

Botswana promising athletes might find themselves missing a golden opportunity of training in Spain because Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) is broke to buy them air tickets.

The trio, Ditiro Nzamani, Lee Eppie, who both run 400 metres and 800 metres runner, Tshepiso Masalela were invited to Spain by Compromiso Esfuerzo y Trabajo (CET) coach, Llorenc Solbes Ponsoda.

Ponsoda is the coach behind Qatari athlete, Abdalelah Haroun’s success.

He trained him ahead of his 2017 campaign. According to the invitation, CET was to finance the three athletes’ accommodation, meals and travels to compete between January to August and BAA was not going to pay any cost of stay for athletes during their stay in Spain.

BAA spokesperson, Ipolokeng Ramatshaba said in an interview that, they were aware of the invitation from CET, but said the association was broke at the moment to buy air tickets for the three athletes.

He said he was cognizant of the fact that the training camp in Spain would help athletes to qualify for major competitions like World Championship and Olympic Games, adding ‘as it is our hands are tied due to financial constraints’.

Asked if they were not in any position to consider using IAAF Olympic Athletics Dividend also meant for development, he said that could be an option, although they had initially not budgeted for the Spain international training camp.

“We must also be very careful, how we are going to use the IAAF Olympic Athletics Dividend. In my opinion, we must use it for things that we have stipulated in our initial proposal. I agree that the issue on the table is part of development,” he said.

Former BAA secretary, Patrick Moesi said CET offer was a welcome development more so that it came at no cost.

He said international exposure would give athletes the necessary edge over other competitors.

The BAA, he said could utilise the IAAF Olympic Athletics Dividend, given that it was meant to cover such needs. “The Olympic dividends are meant to cover training and development of young athletes amongst other things,” he said. ENDS