09 May 2021

Botswana Netball Association (BONA) delegates retained Malebo Raditladi-Nkgakile as their president during the association’s elective general assembly on Saturday.

Raditladi-Nkgakile was voted by four delegates, while her contenders, Thuli Retshabile and Onkemetse Mpudi got three and two votes respectively.
Seipei Gaelesiwe was unopposed for the position of vice president - projects and events.

Mokeresete Mokeresete was elected as the association’s marketing and public relations officer winning by a slight margin of 5-4 against Kereemang Montwedi.
Masego Serumola was unopposed for the position of sports development officer.

Raditladi-Nkgakile thanked the delegates for showing confidence on her leadership, adding that together with her committee, they would ensure that they delivered and enhanced netball.

“I believe I am back because of my committee’s support, individual skills and the belief in my guidance,” she said.

She said she would now meet with the committee to share her roadmap with them so that they worked together for the development of netball.

Sunday Standard sport editor Botlhale Koothopile, who has been following BONA developments ahead of the elective meeting, said for the delegates to retain Raditladi-Nkgakile was a clear indication that they had confidence in her leadership.

“For outsiders like us, it will be baffling, because the current committee took office after Botswana had hosted a successful Netball World Cup and many had hoped they will ride on the wave of the sport’s popularity at the time to grow the sport, but hey have dismally failed to do.

He said netball had not had an active league for over three  years, adding during the period, the sport lost many players, more especially the talent they  saw during the Netball Youth World Cup.

He said contrary to what the current committee promised, there was still no accountability concerning finances.

Koothopile said it was disappointing, that despite preaching, good governance they failed to account for Spar League sponsorship funds.

“It now raises questions whether their contention that they cannot get sponsorships because of the lack accountability from the committee they took over from in 2017 is truthful,” he said.

He said netball now had only nine recognised clubs, eight of the clubs  in the south and only one  in the north, adding that such was an indication of decline of interest in the sport.

“Mind you, this number falls short of the required number of a code to be a member or affiliate of BNSC which is 10. All this happened under the watch of the current committee. Now we hope they will be working hard to resuscitate the sport,” he said. ENDS