04 Nov 2020

 The 40^th edition of the Botswana Sports Awards, previously known as Botswana National Sports Commission Awards, will be held on November 21.

At an event to launch the awards in Gaborone on November 3, BNSC chairperson, Marumo Morule, said through partnership with stakeholders, they hoped to deliver a successful event.

In addition to the Department of Broadcasting Services, Debswana, AON Botswana, Sprint Couriers, Vincent Tours and Brandz Unlimited had already been enlisted to provide corporate support, he said.

Calling the event a first of its kind, Morule explained that it would be carried out with both a live and virtual component in order to comply with COVID-19 protocols.

Botswana National Olympic Committee president, Colonel Botsang Tshenyego, said the awards would be held under the theme: Stars That Rise thus indicating Botswana’s ambition to see the country’s athletes ascend to the highest level globally.

Interestingly, football, the country’s largest sporting code in terms of support and number of participants, did not have a single nominee. 

Leungo Scotch of athletics and boxer, Rajab Otukile, were nominated for the Sportsman of the Year while boxer Keamogetse Kenosi, Marea Modutlwa of bowling and Galefele Moroko of athletics are Sportswoman of the Year nominees.

The Coach of the Year nominees are Lechedzani ‘Master’ Luza of boxing, Kebonyemodisa ‘Dose’ Mosimanyane of athletics and Patricia Letshwenyo of Special Olympics. 

Under the tutelage of Luza, the national team won the 2019 Zone IV Boxing Championship and reached second place, winning three medals, two gold and a silver at the 2019 African Games in Morocco.

Among his achievements in 2019, Mosimanyane coached three athletes to gold at the 2019 BAA National Championship, and led the Botswana athletics team at the 2019 African Games, achieving the 4x400m men’s gold and women’s 4x400m silver medals.

Botswana Chess Federation, Botswana Cricket Association and the Botswana Boxing Association have been nominated for the National Sport Association of the Year.

Lawn Bowls women national team, the ladies volleyball team (special Olympics) and the men’s 4x4 relay team got the nod for the National Team of the Year nomination. ENDS