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13 Mar 2023

The two Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) presidential candidates have promised heaven and earth in efforts to take the most successful sporting code in the country to even greater heights if elected on Saturday March 18.

Making their pitch last Friday (March 10), incumbent Phaphane Botlhale and Moses Bantsi both said they had solid and watertight strategies.

Botlhale said his camp had a solid strategy in place and was currently cascading it to the affiliates. 

He elaborated that the strategy would include forming strategic partnerships, increasing the participation of athletes and improving their performance.

He said if given another tenure he would ensure that coaches and technical officials were fully empowered in their quest to improve athletes’ performance.

On the absence of school sport, he said they had encouraged athletic clubs to adopt schools so as to develop athletes from primary schools to senior school levels. 

He said if more clubs were established across the country they would fill the void of lack of sport in schools.

For his part, Bantsi, who is also a former president of the association, said he found it fit to come back after realising that the organisation’s progress has been sluggish.

He said he had experience in different athletics leadership positions at the regional level and that he found it prudent to come back and develop the code further.

He said what frustrated him more was to see regional committees not fully functioning to develop the code. 

He also said the constitution was currently not followed to the latter and that the current committee failed to hold the ordinary general meetings as per the constitution.

On increasing participation in athletics, Bantsi said the association missed an opportunity during the absence of school sport, saying clubs were not resourced enough. 

He added that even out of school and holiday camps were not utilised although fully funded by Botswana National Sports Commission.

For the position of vice president administration, Oabona Theetso will battle it out with Edward Joseph. 

For vice president sport development, there are three candidates; Kenneth Kikwe, Tshepo Kelaotswe and Legojane Kebaitse.

Raymond Phale is unopposed for the position of vice president finance and administration. 

For the South Central region chairperson position, there is Tebatso Omphitlhetse and Doctor Mandawu.

Four candidates will contest for the Southern region chairperson and they are; Philander Villander, Ontshidile Ramatshogwana, Keamogetse Rancholo and Kago Tladinyane.

Mpho Bagwasi and Moses Raphutshe will compete for the Central region position while Isaac Mbise and Amogelalang Masugae will vie for the North region position. Ends