28 Nov 2019

While there are no plans in place to build a sport academy, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development continues to advocate for and make proposals in this regard. This was said by the minister, Mr Tumiso Rakgare when answering a question in Parliament.

He said the ministry was aware of the role played by sport academies in grooming athletes to be at an elite level and eventually perform at their best.

He noted that the ministry was currently in negotiations with some interested parties to establish a football academy in the country.

Minister Rakgare said a proposal was previously made for the inclusion of a National Sport Academy in the National Development Plan 11, however, it could not be accommodated due to financial constraints.

He further said his ministry still maintained that National Sport Academics should be a major consideration in the next National Development Plan.

Mr Rakgare was answering a question from the Selebi Phikwe West MP Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse who had asked if they considered sports academics to be important for sport development and if there were plans to build such facilities and if not; to state the reasons. ENDS