19 Nov 2013

The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Mr Shaw Kgathi has informed Parliament that 48 players have graduated from constituency tournaments to mainstream league teams since inception of the programme.

Answering a question from the MP for Kanye North, Mr Kentse Rammidi, the minister said the players joined volleyball, netball and football. He said most of these football teams were in the second division, with some from the premier league, first, third and fourth divisions respectively.

Minister Kgathi said in addition to that, two teams namely Kanye Rising Stars in Kanye south constituency and United Football Club in Kweneng East had recently affiliated to the BFA from the constituency tournaments.

He said the average costs from constituency tournaments was about P23 million per year, covering both prize money and logistics while the total cost of the tournaments since inception during the 2008/2009 financial year is P104 841 960.70.

Furthermore, two teams: Delta queens in Maun East and Pejane in Kgatleng East have sponsored their players with Delta East sponsoring three players for Diploma in Computer Sciences at Ba Isago College and one player for certificate in Electrical Installations at Ghanzi Brigade.

Besides these two teams, he said there are other teams that have opened poultry farm projects using the prize money, whilst several others have engaged in social responsibility initiatives such as spending the prize money or less privileged members of the society. He said there is yet another team from Molapowabojang in Ngwaketse South constituency which procured a combi, which is now being used to transport team members.

He cautioned those who use the prize money on unproductive activities such as alcohol consumption to desist from doing that and further appealed to other MPS to help him in this respect, in their respective constituencies.

MP Kentse Rammidi had wanted to know the number of players who graduated from the constituency tournaments to mainstream league teams since inception and the sporting codes these players graduated to and the total costs of constituency tournaments since inception.

He had also wanted the Minister to state the number of teams and players that were sponsored to study in different fields’ utilizing prize money from constituency tournaments. ENDS